Pokemon Go on my Tablet

Pokemon Go is an AR app recently released for iOS and Android that's causing quite a stir among Pokemon fans and newbies alike.  The app uses the GPS and pedometer on a smart device to dictate where Pokemon are located and the player swipe his or her screen to launch a Pokeball to try and catch a Pokemon.  The game is limited to the original 151 Pokemon, but Niantic promises subsequent generations in later updates.

I was part of the beta testing last month.  I don't have a smartphone, but I do have an Android tablet and was able to give the app a spin and then play the full version when it came out.  Being able to catch a Pokemon on my smart device brought back the same thrills I felt as a middle schooler catching Pokemon on my copy of Pokemon Blue back in the day.  To the point, I felt a bit sheepish when I realied that I couldn't hold the B button and tap A to try and increase my chances of a successful catch.

One day, I took out the trash and decided to see what kind of Pokemon I might see.  So with garbage bag in one hand and tablet in the other, I headed out on a mini adventure.  However, as soon as I got to my dumpster, I was out of my WiFi network's range.  Being on a tablet as opposed to a smartphone, unfortunately, has a huge catch: The game depends on a constant source of data in order to keep track of where you are and what Pokemon you might see.  Long story short: no data (WiFi or otherwise), no signal, no Pokemon.

Most of my Pokemon catching is either here at home or at public WiFi spots (McDonalds, et cetera), so my level progression has been very slow.  All the same, I still think this is a great app.  One of the things the game encourages players to do is go out and explore their area, discovering Pokestops.  These are places where players can pick up items, but in real life, they are public buildings, art institutions, et cetera.  Just sitting from my apartment, I've learned about a bunch of little public works of art that I would have never discovered on my own.  Being able to catch Pokemon is a bonus for me.

Pokemon Go on the tablet loses a lot of its appeal (exploration, et cetera) when you're anchored to a WiFi connection.  All the same, I am enjoying my time playing Pokemon on my tablet and learning about the place I've called home for seven years.  When Miyamoto developed Zelda, he was inspired by his time exploring his boyhood home and looking for secrets (Zelda has been an inspiration for me to go out and explore the world).  I'm planning on getting a smartphone in the next month or so.  I'll be able to give Pokemon Go a worthwhile spin when that happens and discover more of the unique side of Eugene.  :)

Fell Off The Wagon and Getting Back On

Not going to lie, I didn't do my 5BX exercises.  Not for a day or a week...but almost an entire month.  My last entry in my Google Sheet was June 6th.  Didn't even record a run for that day.  I hate to think what my mile run time looks like now.  I think I stopped exercising because my knee was hurting one day and then my foot the other.  While I did hurt my foot (at a rehearsal, I think), I used that as a crutch to indulge laziness for the rest of the time.  Once in a while, I'd tell myself, "I should go running" but then I don't.  All the same, I'm making a stand today and going to try and get back on the wagon.  I've set up a separate Google Sheet for catching up and recording my new results.  I plan to do Chart 3 of 5BX everyday, aiming for level I stopped at (D+).  I believe consistency is key to being in good shape, that I can consistently run a mile in a set amount of time if the need arose (my best when I was doing 5BX every day was 7:55).  When I can hit my marks five days in a row, I'll jump back on the regular 5BX sheet and continue.

I can do this.  I know I can...  Wish me luck.

UPDATE: I did my exercised this morning and it turned out mostly well.  The calisthenics all would have passed at the D+ level.  I even threw in a one minute plank at the very end.  The only exercise that didn't pass was running (clocked in at 9:09.  The "goal" is 8:45).  Then again, from what I understand, cardio endurance will go before muscular endurance after a substantial lapse in actiivity.  However, it's also easier to bring back up to par than muscular endurance.  I will say one thing about the run though, my right knee started hurting halfway through the third lap.  When I first started running this year (before I got it organized with the 5BX program), my knee would start hurting about three quarters of the way through my mile.  However, doing those half-miles in Chart 1 helped condition my legs to run the mile, so I think I just need to recondition my knee.

So yeah, everything is good.  Just need to work on running...and the only way to get better at that is to go running.  :)

Google Opinion Rewards Impressions

A couple of months ago, I was looking up ways in which internet users could make money from surveys.  Some of them seems legitimate (others, not so much).  One of the good ones I found is an Android app called "Google Opinion Rewards".  Google sends the user short surveys (usually three to five questions, each taking less than a minute to complete) and then pays out currency for the Google Play Store (to be used in apps, movies, tv, music, et cetera).  I downloaded it and gave it a spin.

After setting up some demographics, your first survey is sent.  After completing it, you are awarded a whole dollar to use in the Play Store (good for an app), opening the Skinner Box.  After that (for me, leastways), surveys came only once every two or three days and each only payed about thirty or forty cents a piece.  On average, I was earning around a dollar a week.  My girlfriend also downloaded the app to her tablet and usually got a survey a day, so she earned money faster than I did, but I know it's about demographics (Google wants answers from a certain group about a certain product, so no biggie).  Your money is tied to your Google account instead of the device, so you could take a survey in the morning on the device and then buy something on the Google Play website on a PC.  The currency expires after a year, so you could save up for more expensive apps.

The slow pace of survey availability (for me) has pros and cons.  Like I said above, the pace is predicated on demographics and it depends on what Google (or the company Google hired to proctor the survey) wanted to know.  Also, I think if somebody did a bunch of surveys in one sitting, they would buy up all the apps and media on their wishlist gratis.  For me, that would kill the fun of doing these surveys, making it more like a job.  I think there is something exciting about seeing the icon for a new survey available after not having done one for a few days (like getting a postcard).

If you use the Google Play store frequently, Google Opinion Rewards is a nice, fun little way to supplement your money on there.  It was a bit of a bummer that Google paid only in currency for their store, but it was made immediately available upon completion.  Other surveys required a PayPal and would pay after a certain amount of time or once you've made a requisite amount of money first.

Requiring the app to take surveys didn't sit too well with me.  It would be nice if there was a way to take these surveys via web browser (even if it's only through a Chrome extension).  While the apps on the store are only for Android devices, there is still a lot of content you can buy ON a PC, FOR the PC (music, movies, et cetera.  Heck, the whole store is available on PC, apps included).

Overall, this was actually a fun app.  The surveys were quick and felt unintrusive (the option for "Prefer Not To Answer" is available on a lot of the questions), plus making a little money for the Google Play store is a nice bonus.  My first purchase was Minecraft Pocket Edition (I may review it later), which took me about six or seven weeks of surveys to afford.  My girlfriend bought a season of a travel TV series.  I don't know what I want to purchase next, but the Google Opinion Rewards app makes it a fun way to slowly earn your way up to the apps and media you want.

--Right now, my next purchase is a coin toss between Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars and Star Wars: Knight of the Old Republic.  I've played the former on the Nintendo DS and loved it...and I'm already halfway there currency-wise!  I've never played the latter and it's more expensive, but I've heard it's a fantastic RPG.  I've also considered the Final Fantasy series, but those are really pricey compared to other apps.  Ah well, we'll see...

100 Days on 5BX and Looking Ahead

Yesterday marked my 100th day with the 5BX exercise program.  I must say I've come a long way since making that Lent promise to give up video games (ie: Wii Fit U) and switched to the low-tech exercise plan.  There have been a few days I've missed, either due to sickness or soreness, but I do have 100 successful workouts logged in my Google Sheet!

Assuming I consistently hit my daily marks, I figure I am only 60 days away from meeting the programs prescribed goal of Chart 4, Level C- (I am currently at Chart 3, Level D).  Part of me is wondering what I will do when I get there.  Would I cut back on the progam, doing it every other day instead of everyday?  Would I stop the program altogether and move to a different exercise regime?  I know it's a bit early to start thinking about things like these, let alone a bit more than shallow to focus on the end when I'm little more than halfway through the journey ("It's the sides of the mountains that sustain life, not the top."  -Robert M. Pirsig).  That being said, my focus should be hitting my marks and nothing else.

This is going to be a short entry, but I leave with the knowledge that fitness is a lifelong affair.  The fact that I've kept up with an execise program for 100 days is awesome (last time I did something similar was a few years ago with Wii Fit Plus).  I don't know if motivation was the problem why I kept dropping programs.  All the same, I'm glad I found something that works for me right now and look forward to keeping myself healthy.

5BX Chart 3 First Impressions

This morning started the third chart of the 5BX exercise program.  I've come a long way since I originally started the program for Lent (I had given up video games, so no Wii Fit U workouts for me).  I was originally planning to stop 5BX when Lent was over, but I actually enjoyed doing 5BX and was impressed by the progress I was making, so I stuck with it.  With a new chart comes new variations and goals of the same five exercises.  Here are just some first impressions of how they feel:

Stretching

In this one, you are basically making a circle, touching the ground to the right of your feet, then inbetween them, and then to the left before going back up.  You reverse the direction after a set number of reps.  On the plus side, I felt way looser faster than with the previous stretching exercise (where you only touch between your feet and bounce).  However, my right thigh and calf (the latter being my old sciatica spot) was bugging me.  I took it easy for the rest of the exercise, lest I reinjure myself.  All the same, this is an exercise I'll keep a close eye on.

Sit-Ups

For the abdominal portion of Chart 3, the participant lays down with legs flat and hands behind head.  He or she then does a sit up.  Previously, hands behind head were not necessary.  I had a problem with this one.  After five or so reps, my old sciatica spot was feeling a bit tense (maybe a combination of this exercise and the stretches?), so I bent my knees and finisned my reps with no aggravation.  This is another I'll keep an eye on.

Back

For this exercise, the participant lies on his or her stomach with hands behind the back.  He or she then lifts the shoulders, chest, legs, and thighs off the ground as high as possible.  It's basically the same exercise as last time, but with hands behind the back instead of under the thighs.  This one was easy.  No pain.

Arms

This one was...interesting.  You lay on the ground with hands underneath your chest and there are three motions: touch your chin to the ground; touch your forehead to the ground; and then move yourself into a "downward-facing dog"-like pose.  To finish, you move into the prone position and then lower to the ground.  I admit that I hated doing Push-Ups in Chart 2, but this one was actually kind of fun to do!  It was really hard though (just barely passed for today), but I imagine doing this for the next 48 days will help.

Running

The only thing that changed was the time I needed to run my mile.  I've actually been doing well enough during the past week to pass at the C Level on Chart 3 (after a few weeks on Chart 2, I just stopped looking at goals as I was comfortably hitting them).  However, with an actual timetable and new goals to hit, my work is cut out for me.  By the end of the Chart, I'll need to consistently be able to run a sub-eight minute mile.  The last few days though, my leg has been bugging me a little.  If I need to take it easy, I will, but I also want to do my best.

...

Chart 3 is a mixed bag.  I imagine if my leg were feeling better, I might enjoy these exercises a little more.  All the same, there are some good ones in there (especially push-ups, just gotta be careful I don't hit my head on the ground.  Also need to keep an eye on my leg).  At this point, I'm over halfway toward my goal of Chart 4, Level C- (the level the program recommends I hit to be considered physically fit for someone my age).  Here's to continued success!  Onwards and upwards!

Deutschelingo Trial

For the past few weeks, I've been doing Duolingo to brush up on my Spanish.  I've only been doing a few minutes a day, aiming for just ten experience points instead of fifty (mitigating the risk of burning out).  For the most part, I am happy with the progress I've made.  It's mostly been a refresher on what I've learned so far, but I do feel more comfortable with talking and translating.  My "fluency" is back up to 37%, about where it was before I stopped.  I intend to press on and see what I can learn.

Before the idea of speaking Spanish even popped into my mind, I took German in high school and I was pretty good at it.  I took it for two semesters and I made all A's.  I even found myself practicing German by translating songs from English (eg: Blue (Da-Ba-Dee) by Eiffel 65).  However, college happened and I stopped doing German altogether.  I don't remember the language being offered at Lord Fairfax at the time...or if it was, I couldn't fit it into my schedule.  Instead, I picked up Spanish a couple of years in and the rest of that is history (in the making).

A few days ago, my boss was texting her son and asked me if I knew German.  I said, "Ein kleine" (a little).  She asked me to translate "no" in German.  To which, I could (ie: "nein").  All the same, this got me wondering how well my German held up over the past fourteen years.  I logged onto Duolingo, started their German course, and I jumped right in and took their placement test.  While I wasn't as confident with German as I am with Spanish, I thought I'd do okay because I did really well in high school.  The result: ... I suck at German.

The few questions I did get right were only because I remembered that all nouns in German are capitalized.  Otherwise, I would never have gotten "the dog drinks the milk".  I also missed a lot of articles for their proper nouns (Der, Die, Das).  Lastly when I asked for a slower demonstration of the audio, the sound byte sounded angrier, which was jarring and, admittedly, kind of funny at the same time.  About halfway through the test and a few minutes of getting the questions wrong, the app crashed on my tablet!  I guess even my RCA was tired of me destroying the sister language of English.

Later that day, I logged back on.  It gave me the option to do the placement test again.  To which, I said "no" and elected to start from scratch.  Likewise with Spanish, I opted to do only ten experience points.  After the lesson, I felt pretty good.  I know I'm not as good at German as I was, so but I think I can get back up to high school proficiency with some work (kind of curious to see where I would have landed on Duolingo's "fluency" rating).  I am still taking Spanish and will do so alongside German for a total of twenty experience points a day.

The saying "if you don't use it, you lose it" is true with languages.  A lot can disappear in fourteen years.  However, I think this is something I want to try and bring back.  I don't know how practical learning German will be, especially when speaking Spanish is a great skill to have when job hunting in the United States, but I want to do this for me.  German was a big part of my high school identity (academically speaking) and I'd like to try and preserve that.  Maybe my tablet will be less testy with me as I do this as well.

5BX Core Exercise Addenum

As I said in my last post, I felt a pop in my back which caused some mile sciatica down my right leg.  Since then, the sensation has not gone away.  I am, however, able to mitigate it (or even eliminate it) with good posture.  All the same, this episode reminded me of what my physical therapist said to keep my back strong.  With that, I am thinking about adding a core element to my workout regimen.  Part of me is aghast at the idea of adding more to an already solid number of exercises (five basic exercises), but I've also been doing 5BX for a couple of months and my back popping still happened.  I'm doing this so I CAN do 5BX and stay healthy.  On that note, I've been thinking of a few exercises:

Hula-Hoop

I was thinking of doing a total of six minutes for the hula-hoop, with three minutes in each direction for the sake of consistency.  The 5BX program calls for an eleven minute workout, and this would bring that number there.  I would still go running as I would look at hula-hooping more as a core exercise than cardio (metabolically speaking, hula-hooping is comparable to walking).  It's a fun activity that could serve as a cool-down when the other exercises are finished (except the running portion).  However, this would be the only exercise that requires equipment (one hula-hoop) as opposed to the other exercises.

The Plank

I was thinking of doing a minute plank each day.  Like the other 5BX exercises, this one does not require equipment and can be done practically anywhere.  It's a simple, old-school exercise that does measure core endurance.  However, I don't want to burn out and possibly exacerbate my sciatica.

Any thoughts?  Ideas?

4/28/16 update

Hey guys,

Sorry that it's been some time since my last post.

Things have been going well, I think: I am already up to the B Levels on Chart 2 for 5BX; my fastest mile run so far has been 8:12; my work at 4J is nearly done for the school year; and we started rehearsals for The Merry Wives of Windsor.  I already have my summer schedule for Nearby Nature, which I need to start working on curriculum in the next month.

Things have been good, but there have also been a few rough patches.  About a week ago, I went to the ER with a fever of 103.  Turns out I had the flu and stayed home from work two days.  With the ER visit comes the ER bill, which I need to apply for the hospital's financial assistance program.  Having no medical insurance can be a real bear sometimes.  My car is also having a few issues (it's slow to accelerate, effectively cutting my gas milage in half...among a few other things) and I've got a tax bill from the State of Oregon to take care of.

I think most worrying of all is my back and lower right leg.  I had my microdiscectomy three years ago for my herniated disc and have worked on trying to prevent a relapse.  However, at rehearsal last night, I twisted to my left side to grab something behind me and felt a "pop" in my lower spine.  Within minutes, I felt a constant dull pressure in my lower right leg...the old sciatica spot.  It doesn't hurt, but "sleeping it off" didn't do anything either as I still feel some pressure this morning.  I hope it's nothing, but I'm also fearful that could get worse.  I'm still going to exercise, but I'll also be taking it easy and watching my posture in the coming days and weeks.

That's about it so far.  I've been wanting to write these past couple of weeks, for which I've had a few ideas.  If the same muse strikes again, I'll be here.

Take care.

Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice Review

Tonight, my girlfriend and I went to see the new Batman movie...or Superman sequel...or crossover...thing.  Ever since it was announced that Ben Affleck would don the cowl and play the Caped Crusader, we have been anxiously awaiting this film's release to see what would happen.  Now that it came out, we decided to go and see what kind of film DC and Warner Bros. made to compete with Marvel's own Cinematic Universe.  Here is my review of Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice.

The Good:

One thing that really struck me was the dark overtones of the plot (Frank Miller was even given a "Special Thanks" in the credits).  The film begins with Bruce Wayne witnessing firsthand the destruction and chaos that was the battle between Superman and General Zod at the end of Man of Steel.  This makes for a surreal allegory to the September 11th terror attacks where citizens of a large city were witnessing their home come under attack, all while adding a HUGE boost of character development to Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne and why he is determined to take out Superman (a man with unlimited power and one bad mood can destroy everything on earth).  It made the DC Universe a dark and scary place, but it offers potential for superhero stories.  On that note, Ben Affleck as Bruce Wayne was good.  Ben Affleck as Batman?  Well...he was better than George Clooney (so, yay?).  One character that stole the show for me was Alfred, played craftily by the criminally underrated Jeremy Irons.  Gal Gadot was in the movie for a grand total of about MAYBE twenty minutes as Wonder Woman, but she shined in that short period of time.  I really liked when conversations about philosophy and moral obligations came up, citing Greek mythology and other stories.  The cameo by Neil deGrasse Tyson was wonderful as he discusses how humanity's sense of self changed over the years from Copernicus to Darwin to Superman.  The final battle (not the Superman vs. Batman fight) was CGI-porn, but it was exciting.

The Bad:
Ben Affleck was decent and Jeremy Irons was sublime, but I did not like Jesse Eisenberg's portrayal of Lex Luthor.  Instead of Luthor being a ruthless businessman and scientific genius, this Luthor was a spoiled rich kid with a bit of political leverage, a cathartic sense of destruction (plus Daddy issues), and maybe a doctorate in cellular biology with a minor in human and kryptonian psychology.  As good as the themes and overtones were, the overall plot felt hastily and haphazardly put together.  It's like there was a list of great ideas that would each have made for a good movie on their own, but Snyder and Co. decided to try and stuff them all into one film with everything coming out half-baked.

The Ugly:

Marvel hit a home run with it's Cinematic Universe, but that project's slowly been put together for the past eight years, with many of the characters getting at least one whole movie to themselves (even Ant-Man!) to focus on character development.  With Batman v. Superman, DC is trying put something comparable together in a much shorter time span.  To be fair, Wonder Woman is getting her own film (and we did get a snippet of her backstory in the third act) with The Flash and Aquaman each getting a film later, but we're getting these after the fact whereas Marvel introduced each of its characters one post-credits scene at a time (AFTER the main character's story was done).  DC did the opposite with a scene in the movie where we are watching videos of other future Justice League members The Flash, Aquaman, and Cyborg.  As fun as they were to watch, they didn't add anything to the Batman and Superman story and mainly served as advertisements for future films.  Batman v. Superman has already made Warner Bros. twice its money back and more ($581 million as of 4/3/2016 on a $250 million budget) based on hype as opposed to substance...and that's the problem I'm having.  While Marvel's hit a home run (so far), DC is desperately swinging for the fences with its own cinematic universe and it's already strike one.  I feel like I am getting more developed stories with the DC television universe (ie: The Flash, Green Arrow, and Supergirl), because writers are taking their time and building these characters up (to be fair though, developing a character over a thirteen hour story is easier than a two hour one).  But I digress, we will see how the other movies play out, including the upcoming Justice League movies.  That being said, Batman v Superman wasn't terrible as a popcorn flick.  It really wasn't, but it could have been a whole lot better, especially with two of DC's biggest franchise stars prominently in the middle of it.

The Other: So how was Henry Cavill, Amy Adams, and Laurence Fishburne as Superman, Lois Lane, and Perry White?  Well let me ask you this: How did you like Man of Steel?  ...  There you go, though I was a little bummed at no mention from Perry of "Great Caesar's Ghost".

Moment of Zen:

Download this for FREE at www.archive.org!  Superman shorts from the 1940's are in the public domain!

Running the Block vs Running the Track

Chart 2 of the 5BX exercise program gives me the option of running one mile for my cardio workout.  Since I've started the chart, I've elected to run around my block four times to make a mile.  This was convenient as I could get all of my exercises done at once instead of breaking up the workout where I do calisthenics in the morning and then cardio in the afternoon.  In the past few days, however, my run time got progressively worse and worse.  I owed it up to my body just breaking in the mile and left it up to time for things to sort themselves out.  Out of curiosity last night, I opened Google Maps and retraced my block on two seperate devices.  My laptop measured my route at a mile.  My tablet measured it at 1.15 miles.  Google Maps gave me two different answers, so either it was a software issue (unlikely) or I was measuring wrong (more likely).  To answer this, I decided to go to a track and run a proper mile.

On this beautiful Saturday in Eugene, OR, I elected to go to the track at Sheldon High School.  In the next field over, students were playing a lacrosse match with a rival school.  During my run, I didn't push myself too hard, being conscious of any discomfort in my right leg.  All the same though, it felt good being back on the track.  I didn't have to worry about many other people to avoid, breaks in the sidewalk, or any other possible obstacle (ie: dogs).  It was just me, a measured oval, and what my body could do, (though the sounds of lacrosse were a welcome distraction).  It was convenient.  On the other hand, I lost out on the sounds of a city awakening, the sensation of Eugene's sidewalks greeting the bottom of my Merrells and creating an urban heartbeat, the smells (mmm...fresh Voodoo Donuts), and overall ambiance of downtown Eugene in the morning.  Still, the point of this was to compare running in the city versus running on the track.

I'm happy to say that at the end of the run, I was an entire minute UNDER my previous two run times.  It was good enough that it would have passed at the A+ levels!  With that in mind, I might take up running again at the Middle School in between my shifts (so long as the gym class isn't using it) and doing the block if I can't find an available track that day.  I'm not opposed to finding another mile-long route.  A part of me feels it redundant that I'm relying on a track just to run, especially when the point of 5BX was to get a work out without needing any equipment (I know the default cardio exercise is a stationary run interspersed with other actions, but I feel I get much more out of running a mile).  But I digress, I'm sticking with my track until I find another route...preferrably one where I don't need Google Maps to figure out how far a mile is.

Miitomo No Go

Miitomo is the first smart device application from Nintendo.  After years of investors calling for the venerable video game company to enter the Android/iOS market, Nintendo answered by announcing Miitomo, a virtual sim app featuring Mii avatars (first introduced when the Wii gaming console came out) and asking questions to learn more about the people around you.  The app has been out in Japan for a few weeks, but it was released in North America and parts of Europe today.  Miitomo also ties into Nintendo's revamped consumer loyalty program: My Nintendo.

My device is an RCA Viking Pro 10.1 tablet.  While Miitomo seemed a better fit for smartphones, I read reports that the app worked on iPad and iPod touch, devices independent of a cellular connection.  This made me excited at the prospect of being able to try Nintendo's first forray into the smart device market.

I turned on my tablet this morning and read the news that the app was indeed available.  I quickly rushed to the Google Play Store and typed Miitomo, clicked on the app's icon that was officially embellished with the name "Nintendo Co., Ltd", and then...

Denied...

"Your device isn't compatible with this version."  My tablet cannot run Miitomo.  Well...that sucks.  When the announcement was made, I was ecstatic at being able to have Nintendo officially on my tablet (Pokemon Shuffle, notwithstanding), but it looks like I'll have to wait for either an update to the app which allows it to run on my RCA or spring for a smartphone when I get some extra money (planned on doing that within the next year anyway as my LG 840g is getting long in the tooth and slowing down).  As varied as Android devices are as far as their hardware and abilities, it makes sense that a few brands and models would be incompatible.  I just wasn't expecting mine to be included in that list, being a 2015 model.  All the same, I put Miitomo on my wishlist and closed the store, waiting to see what happens next.  Hopefully I'll have better luck with the upcoming Pokemon Go.

5BX Chart 2 Begin (with some thoughts on each exercise)

Today was my first day on Chart 2 of the 5BX program.  I've been looking forward to this one for a couple of weeks now.  I saw this as the first true test of what I've accomplished in Chart 1.  No more knee push-ups!  We're doing the full-body push-ups.  I'm also swapping crunches for full sit-ups and the half-mile run for the full-mile.  The game has bee stepped up a notch.

As expected, none of my scores were as good as my ending scores from Chart 1.  However, all of today's scores passed for their level.  Three of them even would have passed at the A+ level (so now I know where I need to focus)!  Also, when comparing Day One scores for both Chart 1 and Chart 2 (running notwithstanding), I did better on the latter chart.

Just a few thoughts on each of the exercises...

-Stretching

In chart one, it was a simple toe-touch followed by a backwards stretch.  This time, when touching down, I need to force a stretch toward the ground (I'm forcing light because I know what a pulled muscle can do to a physically demanding job).  This one brought back memories of the sit-and-reach exercise Americas did as elementary school students during the President's Physical Fitness test.  All the same, I like seeing exactly how flexible I am and think of the improvement I might make.

-Sit-Ups

This one bugged me a little.  During my first few reps, I felt some pressure on the outside of my right calf, the exact spot I had sciatica when I had my herniated disc.  After a few seconds (and a few words to myself to take it slow and low), the pressure was gone.  I'm going to keep an eye on this exercise.  I didn't make the A+ score on this one, but I was only one away.  The intention of these exercises is to make myself stronger, not to get hurt.  Again, I'm going to go easy on this one.  Progress should sort itself out over the next 41 days.

-Back Exercises

This one confused me.  For chart one, you lie on your belly and lift your shoulders while lifting one leg at a time, alternating legs (lifting both legs counted as one rep).  This time, the participant lifts both legs at a time along with the shoulders.  I didn't think I was doing it right until I felt my back tense up (not in a bad way).  This is another I'm going to keep an eye on because of where it tensed up and where I had my surgery, though I felt no pain during the exercise.

-Push-Ups

Whoo-boy!  Believe it or not, I actually made the A+ score on this one!  When I could do Wii Fit, I could squeeze out maybe ten reps.  Now I can do twice that many (not bad for having done knee push-pus for the past seven weeks).  However, consistency is key.  We'll know tomorrow and over the next few days after if today's performance was a fluke or the real deal.  Though by the end of Chart 2, it won't look like a fluke.

-Mile Run

This is the one I've been looking forward to the most.  Even better, I used Google Maps to measure out my block and found that four times around makes roughly one mile!  Now I can finish all of my exercises in the morning instead of splitting the workout up where it's calisthenics in the morning and cardio in the afternoon (though I lose the benefit of having the mile measured out at the track and a chocolate milk waiting for me).  This was another one I was worried about, mainly because my sciatica and herniated disc started on a treadmill.  The difference this time is I can set my own pace where I'm comfortable instead of forcing myself to run at a machine's pace (I know I could have turned the dial down, but the competitive part of me back then would have no such thing).  Don't get me wrong, I'll push myself to do better, but I will not go overboard.  In Chart 1, I had my good days (breaking four minutes for the half mile) and bad days (around four and a half minutes), so I imagine Chart 2 will be the same thing.  Going in to today, I knew I wasn't going to make the A+ score, but I'm happy to say today's run would have passed at the B+ level.  I was comfortable for about two and a half laps around the block, but the last lap and a half felt like an endurance test.  Again, the key is consistency.  The more I run, the better I'll do (I just have to make sure I'm doing it safely).

All in all, today was a good start to Chart 2 on 5BX.  I didn't think I'd want to carry on after Lent was over.  I imagined me going back to doing my half-hour of calisthenics and yoga on Wii Fit U.  However, as fun as they can be, I realized fitness need not be dependent on a video game (though fitness as a side-effect of playing can be nice.  Example: DDR, Wii Sports, or Just Dance).  I'll probably turn on Wii Fit U once in a while to see how I've progressed, maybe weigh myself and sync my pedometer (which needs new batteries).  But I digress, I think I've found my main form of exercise for the time being, requiring only 11 minutes a day...well, 14 minutes if you add extra running time, but I'll work on that.  Onwards and upwards!  :)

5BX inconspicuous Exercise

Sorry for the lapse in communication, but my girlfriend and I just got back from a vacation in Tillamook, OR with a quick stop in Vancouver, WA.  Her grandparents own a house in this Oregon coastal town.  We spent a good bit of our time going to the beaches to look for rocks and fossils.

Greetings from Oceanside, OR!

During my time on vacation, I still worked on my 5BX regimen.  Eleven minutes a day is easy when one is on vacation, though having five weeks to get into the habit beforehand definitely helped.  I even pulled up Google Maps on my tablet and measured out half a mile for my run (with varying degrees of accuracy, I must add).  While Tillamook did have a high school with a track, I opted for the more local route, getting back to the house quicker.

I have to admit something: I'm self-conscious when I exercise.  I can work out in front of strangers without much of a problem (hence why I can go to the track and do my laps), but doing so in front of people I know makes me uneasy, like I'm being judged on what I can and cannot do.  I can exercise in front of my girlfriend, because she's been supporting me ever since I've started the program.  Still, I found myself feeling self-conscious when I did my exercises in front of her cousin in the living room (Vancouver) and a little bit when I worked out in Tillamook.

It got better though.  During our visit, my girlfriend's grandmother saw me doing my stretches and asked, "You're doing your exercises?" with her warm demeanor.  One day during the trip, my girlfriend's aunt and cousin (a different one from the previous paragraph) came and visited.  I went out for my run.  When I returned, the aunt was impressed that I'd went out and ran.  Knowing I had this support all along made me feel a bit silly being self-conscious around these people.

Having support is great, but I'd like to be in a place where I don't feel self-conscious in front of people.  I'd like to feel confident enough that I don't have to rely on the support (or the feeling of permission) from friends and family in order to feel secure in exercising.  Sure, I'm not the best in push-ups, but that shouldn't matter.  What SHOULD matter are the improvements and achievements I've attained since I've started and how those make me feel.  I'm more flexible, my arms and abs are tighter, and I can run half a mile in around four minutes without dying (really curious to see how the mile will look on Monday).  While it's not on par with an athlete, it's better than where I was about five and a half weeks ago...and that's not a bad thing.

Yesterday marked my first day in the A+ levels of Chart 1 and now it's a straight shot to starting Chart 2 on Monday.  If all goes well (consistently hitting my targets), July 14th, 2016 would be my first day at the C- Level on Chart 4, the level the program recommends I achieve to be considered "fit" for my age group.  Onwards and upwards!

5BX Chart One Three-Quarter Checkpoint

Today, I am three quarters of the way through Chart 1 of 5BX having started Level A-.  I am quite excited and proud of myself for sticking with the program and making it to the final letter grades.  Doing my math, my last day of Chart 1 will be Easter Sunday, appropriate considering I started this program in response to giving up video gaming for Lent (and no, ending on Lent was not planned).  With all the push-ups, half miles, and whatnot so far, there are a few things on my mind as Chart 1 closes.

One problem I find I am having lately is motivation.  There are some mornings I wake up and the temptation to skip a day is present, that I've done this so much up to this point that one day of not exercising wouldn't hurt.  I think part of it is also I am coming to the end of Chart 1 and my mind is trying to get me to rest on the laurels of my progress so far.  It's like part of my brain is saying, "You've been at this for over a month.  You're stronger, flexible, and have better cardio endurance.  Congratulations!  Now get some rest."  Still, knowing there is progress to be made gives me that bit of "umph" to do my exercises for the day.  While I have passed my plateau for push-ups, my running has stagnated a bit (I'm confident I can do the mile run in a satisfactory time at the start of Chart 2, I'm pretty sure I couldn't do it at an A+ level...yet).  Having my timer and Google Sheets (how I keep track of my progress) on my tablet's home screen is a good daily reminder to exercise as well.

Google Sheets: Tracking progess while also fostering a sense of accomplistment.  The lone red cell is when I did the stationary run instead of my regular half-mile.

Today is my last day working at Madison Middle School before Spring Break.  After my work shift, I go out to the track and run my half mile (I did get permission from the principal first).  However, because I won't be at the school again until March 28th, I won't have the convenience of my regular track.  On weekends, I go to other tracks around Eugene to run.  However, not having my regular daily access to Madison won't exactly help the motivation factor.  But I digress, THESE are the A levels.  This is my test to see how truly committed I am to this program.  I guess if I'm really out of a place to do the half-mile, I could substitute it with the stationary run.

I am in the home stretch for Chart 1, but I know this is the start of a long journey for me.  I'm still curious to see how well I do in Wii Fit U when Lent is over, but I also realize that my health and fitness should not be contingent on a video game.  This isn't about a score on a video game, but about how I can improve myself.  I plan to give these last twelve days my best and be ready for Chart 2.

Spanish Practice

I have an "on-again and off-again" relationship with the Spanish language.  I've taken courses in college, worked at a Mexican restaurant in Virginia, and have been to Ecuador for a study abroad program.  While I am nowhere near fluent, I like to think I have a general grasp of basic vocabulary and grammar.  Still, from time to time, I try and do a supplemental activity to improve (from listening to Spanish music to using software for the Nintendo DS).  A year ago, I made it a resolution to get better at Spanish via Duolingo.  Duolingo is a website where participants can learn a foreign language for free.  I did great for a few months and then, like most resolutions, I dropped the habit.  Recently, I tried it again.

I logged in and looked at the depressive home page.  All my word strength bars were down to nearly nothing due to neglect.  To be fair, I've logged in a few times earlier this year, but I could not stick to the habit.  I think one reason I got burned out of it was the need to do a lot in one session, so I went into settings and switched my Daily XP from 50 points a day to 10.  My 5BX regimen takes only 11 minutes a day, so maybe dialing the daily requirements down is what I needed.  I did the activity for the day, going back to strengthen basic vocabulary, and was greeted with the usual fanfare I was accustomed to back when I was regularly participating.  Afterward, it told me I was 27% fluent in Spanish.  However, seeing my other strength gauges so low negated any idea of fluency.

I am going to give this a try and see if I can stick with it this time.  I think going too fast and too hard is what made me lose interest the first few times.  I would love to get better at Spanish.  Learning a new language opens up the world culturally, strengthens work prospects, and has great mental benefits.  If I can stick with 5BX for as long as I have, I think I can stick with Duolingo, even if in a limited sense.  For those interested, here is the website: www.duolingo.com

BONUS: Another great way to test language vocabulary is through the Free Rice program.  The participant answers questions pertaining to math, vocabulary, art, et cetera.  Every correct answer sees 10 grains of rice donated to the World Food Programme.  The difficulty of the test of adaptive, so the more answers players get correct, the harder the subsequent questions become.  Getting a question wrong just bumps you down to an easier question.  Ten grains of rice may not seem like a lot, but they add up, especially when playing for a few minutes.  One of the subjects is Spanish language, so players can improve their fluency while feeding people.  Clicktivism at its finest, I think.  Here is the website: www.freerice.com

Quickie LG 840g Blog Sandwich

I was digging through the settings at Blogger and found that there was
a way to upload blogs via email.  I imagine this option is for folks
who want to write but don't have ready access to the Blogger website
or app.  Being is how my iPod Touch is to old to run the website (let
alone the app) and my phone is not a smartphone but can still access
Gmail, I fit this audience.  I really like having the convenience of
not needing to be at my computer or tablet to write!  There have been
times where I've had an idea, but couldn't write it up and I'd lose
the idea or interest later.  The downsides to this style of blogging
for me are hardware related.  For one, HOW MUCH you can write depends
on your device (my phone will let me compose a bit, but nothing too
heavy).  Second, available editing capabilities depend on your
device's software.  I am writing directly into Gmail's mobile page on
my LG 840g's stock browser.  With that, there are no space breaks nor
spell checkers.  Composing the blog on here is limited to the numeric
keypad instead of a QWERTY layout (ie: lots of button pressing this
way).  I know that the Opera browser is available for my phone and I
could also use my iPod Touch's email client (both with QWERTY, no
less), but I have my phone all the time and I wanted to test this out.
My phone does have its own email client, but Gmail stopped working on
that a long time ago (citing an unknown certificate).  There is an
option on Blogger to send the email as a draft instead of a post for
later edits, so maybe I'll try that out later and see what I prefer.
For now, I am doing direct uploads.  While the blog may look like an
unrefined block of words, having the option to post anywhere is nice.
Maybe I'll do more blogs in this style (ie: rapid reaction, et
cetera).  The thought is exciting, but we will see how much I actually
use this.

5BX Chart One Midway Checkpoint

It's been 24 days since I've started 5BX, the Canadian exercise program where participants perform five old-school, zero equipment exercises for eleven minutes a day.  I started the program in response to not being able to play Wii Fit U for my Lenten promise of not playing video games.  As I am halfway through the first level of the program, I figured now would be a good time to update everyone with how the program is going.

First, I am proud to say that I've managed to stick with the program thus far.  Everyday I've done exercises, including the half-mile run.  I've only missed running one day because I was sick, however I did the alternate cardio exercise.  Despite having been on the program for only a little over three weeks, I am noticing positive results.  My flexibility is doing much better and my abs and core are getting stronger (the flexibility and core are very important as that's what my physical therapist told me to keep an eye on after I had my back surgery in 2013).  My upper-body strength is getting better, albeit slowly.  Lastly, when I started running, I would be out of breath right after the first lap around the track.  Now I can go the full two laps without much issue.  Like it says in the book, the trick is to keep at the program every single day.  I'm also happy to say I am still scoring as well as I'd need to pass at the A+ level of my current chart! 

As successful as this seems, there are a few other things on my mind regarding my health and fitness.  For one, I've hit a plateau on a few of the exercises, mainly the push-ups and the half-mile run (I've actually started dipping on the latter).  However, I know the best way to beat a plateau is to keep at it and do your best.  Second, I've gained a bit of weight since I've started the program, but I know that mostly comes from working at a school cafeteria and a lack of sensible portion control (I don't think muscle mass builds THAT quickly, you know?).  The best way to deal with that is...sensible portion control and healthy habits (Mashed potato and turkey gravy Thursdays have become a weakness of mine in the past few months).  Third, there are days when I overdo it.  Sometimes I'll do my stretching past where my body is comfortable and I'll have a backache for a day or so (I'm excited that I can touch the floor again, let alone my toes, but I know have to take care of myself first and foremost).  The same goes with the running.  Admittedly, I think running was what caused my herniated disc in 2012 which lead to my surgery (leastways, I was running on a treadmill when the sciatica started), so I'm conscientiously trying to pay better attention to my body during my runs.

That being said, I am starting to look at the 5BX as less of a workout regime and more like a daily routine, akin to brushing your teeth or something similar.  Do I feel like a Spartan for doing 5BX everyday?  No (then again I'm still only halfway through Chart One, far and away from my "goal" of Level C+ on Chart Four).  Do I feel better overall for doing the program?  Yes, but I think I'd like to supplement this with another activity (eg: hiking ... mainly hiking).  I feel like 5BX is a program which gives you the energy to go out and comfortably be active (it does make mention of this in the book).  It hasn't been the 11-minute daily panacea for fitness, but it could be a stepping stone for other goals.

I'll write about this again at the end of Lent (two weeks from now) and let you know how it goes.  I will almost be completely out of Chart 1 by then and getting ready to start Chart 2 where the exercises get a little harder (eg: from a basic crunch to a full sit-up; knee push-ups to full push-ups; and running a full mile instead of the half-mile; et cetera).  Otherwise, be well and take care.

Pavlov in my Ringtone (Audio Conditioning Experiment)

Earlier today, I was playing around with the ringtones and other stock sounds on my cellphone.  The current tones and sounds I use for calls and messages are ones I've since imported (for calls, I use "Type A" from Tetris and texts are signaled with Navi's "Hey! Listen!" from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time).  When I got to my own tones after listening to the stock files, I noticed something: in the back of my mind, I could still hear the sound of the cellphone vibrating even though it physically wasn't.  During a regular call or text, my phone will both chime and vibrate, but now my mind was filling in the absent sound of the vibration.  It is as if you are listening to a song you know well with one working headphone and your brain fills in what the second headphone can't (eg: missing harmonies, drum progressions, et cetera).  All the same, this got me thinking about human conditioning.  How much combined stimuli of the phone's ringtone and vibrations were required before my mind tied the two together to a point where my mind will involuntarily create one in its absence?

If my mind was conditioned to create a sound, how difficult would it be to break that conditioning?  With that, I switched the vibrate feature of my phone off to see if that would do it.  If that does not, I will switch my ringtone (I did not "hear" the vibration on the other tones).  Interestingly enough, I can play Teris and Ocarina of Time and listen to their music and sounds without thinking my cell phone is vibrating.

I am doing this experiment more out of curiosity to see how long it will take for my mind to disassociate the ringtone from the vibration.  I am not tying this to phantom phone vibration as that phenomena is more tactile and mine is auditory, though I imagine correlations could be drawn (the ubiquity of cell phone vibrations in society, et cetera).  But I digress, my phone is no longer set to vibrate (first time in years) and I am curious to see what will happen.

Big Lots DVD Bin (aka The Chili Bucket)

Years ago, a friend and I would look through the bin of $5 DVDs at Wal-Mart which we affectionately called "The Gravy Bowl".  The idea was that swimming amongst wave after wave of crappy DVDs (ie: gravy) were a few cinematic gems worth owning.  Even some of the other customers who dug through the bin moved DVDs aside with their arms in a swimming motion.  The activity was less about ownership of movies and more about the thrill of the hunt and the satisfaction of discovery, searching for that celluloid diamond in the rough (eg: Blazing Saddles; The Goonies; et cetera).  However, with the advent of Netflix, my time diving into the Gravy Bowl decreased considerably.  With a library of cinema and television at my fingertips, I found less incentive to hunt for the classics.

One night very recently, my girlfriend and I decided to go to Big Lots and look at their DVDs.  We had gone there a few months ago to buy some DVDs for a Secret Santa exchange.  Big Lots is a store that buys excess or unsold inventory from other stores and sells it at a discount.  My girlfriend made the comment that their DVD bin was the Chili Bucket, the place where DVDs that didn't sell the first time have been repackaged and are placed on the shelf (hehe, I love my girlfriend).

We looked around for about fifteen minutes and found some oddities.  Some of the titles we found were Hollywood blockbusters in Spanish with English as the second option (great way to learn the language, I might add.  Office Space helped me pass an exam once).  There was not a lot of variety to the selection, unfortunately, but there was enough there to rekindle a little of the hunting spirit.  In the end, we walked out with three movies...

Eleven dollars worth of chili.

Men in Black, Interview With The Vampire, and America's Sweethearts.  We paid a grand total of eleven dollars for these DVDs (MiB was five alone).  All in all, not bad.  We drove home to watch Men in Black, one of the few movies we searched for and could not find on Netflix.  However, when we opened the case, we discovered something interesting...

There's a "Disc Two"?

The DVD had been completely repackaged!  Someone had taken the movie out of a two-disc set and packaged it for a budget DVD (well, reuse and recycle, right?).  All the same, it reinforces the idea that the chili bucket is the place where unsold DVDs are given a second chance, albeit with a few trimmings here and there.

We had found other movies we each wouldn't have minded owning but had to leave behind due to our budget.  Maybe next time when we have a little more money, right?  While looking through the chili bucket is not as exciting as swimming through hundreds of DVDs at Wal-Mart's gravy bowl, the experience was worthwhile enough to warrant at least taking a gander whenever we go shopping at Big Lots.

Running with Shakespeare

I am playing Falstaff this summer in a community theater production of "The Merry Wives of Windsor".  This is my first lead role in a Shakespearean play (let alone any play)!  I have already started learning lines and doing basic character development (psychology, motivations, et cetera).  Even though I'm an amateur (a case could be made for semi-professional though), I want to do this role the best that I can.

For the cardio portion of 5BX, I have elected to run.  At this point in the program, I need only run half a mile.  So far, my average running time is a little over four minutes, which would pass at the A+ level for chart one (to "pass" at my current level of D+, I need to run it in seven).  Still, I know if I am going to succeed at higher levels, I need to find other ways to push myself and improve.

I have been reading about boot camp experiences lately.  One thing that struck me as interesting was that recruits have to yell their count out loud during push ups or other exercises, which trains the body to work more efficiently with less oxygen.  I already count out my reps during the other four execises of 5BX (not necessarily yell them.  I have neighbors), but I wanted to do something for the running portion.

During yesterday's run, I started reciting lines for Falstaff out loud (or at least ones I thought I had commited to memory).  Not only did it become a test of physical endurance, forcing my body to work with less oxygen, but also a mental test, trying to focus on lines I need to have memorized by June.  When I ran out of lines, I switched to Trinculo's first monologue from "The Tempest".  Before I knew it though, I was already twice around the track.

At the end of the run, I did not get as fast a time that I usually get (I still would have passed on the A+ level), but it was actually a lot of fun.  I was neither out of breath nor terribly exhausted afterward and, if nothing else, doing this reinforced scenes I know well and others that need work (and there are a lot of them).  On the plus side, a good indicator of pace is whether you can talk out loud during a run.  If Falstaff is going to be fat this summer, the theater may need to get him a special suit.  So if you see someone running on track two speaking in Elizabethan English, that might be me.

5BX and Lent

For Lent 2016, I gave up video games.  I am no longer a practiciing Catholic, but I felt it was time for me to take a break and focus on other things in life.  With that, my Wii Fit U activity has been suspended.  In the meantime, I have rediscovered 5BX (short for five basic exercises).  The 5BX regime is an exercise program developed by Dr. Bill Orban for the Royal Canadian Air Force.  The notable things about this program are it only takes eleven minutes per day to complete and does not require any specialized equipment (particularly great for pilots stationed in remote bases or anyone with limited time or access to a gym).  The participant starts at the lowest level of the first chart and progresses his or her way up to a level appropriate for his or her age (I am 31 years old, so my endgoal is Chart 4, Level C+).  As one progresses through the program, the fitness demands increase, either requiring more repetitions per exercise in the time limit or the exercises themselves becoming more difficult.

The regime starts with two minutes of a stretching activity (essentially the warm-up period), followed by one minute of ab exercises, one minute of back strengthening exercises, a minute of push-ups, concluded with six minutes of cardio.  The final exercise may be substituted with either a run or a walk that must be completed within a time limit.  It must be said that later levels of ab exercises can cause back problems.  Doing modern crunches or holding a plank formation may be substituted.

The program is no longer in use by the Royal Canadian Air Force.  However, a quick Google search can bring up lots of resources for the program, including free .PDF files of scans from the old booklets!

I try to work out the entire two minutes or one minute required for each exercise instead of just doing the required reps and stopping.  I also do the running option for my cardio (the school I work at has a track which I run on during my free time.  On weekends, I go to the park and run).  Today is my eighth day of doing 5BX and I am impressed with what I am seeing.  Progress seems slow, but with my back injury from a few years ago, I want to take my time and make sure I can comfortably do the routine before moving on to higher levels (my age dictates that I spend at least four days at each level before progressing).  The exercises are controlled and paced in Wii Fit U, contrasted with 5BX in that it's a daily physical fitness test where I push myself to do my best.  It will be interesting to see how I do in Wii Fit U after Lent is over...IF I don't want to give up 5BX.

Here is a great link to get started with 5BX.  As always, consult a physician before starting an exercise program.  http://fit450.com/HTML/5BX_Intro.html

RCA Viking Pro 10.1 (2015) Review

Last Christmas, I received the RCA Viking Pro 10.1 from Wal-Mart.  While RCA isn't exactly renowned for their Android offerings, my family had decent luck with the devices (one tablet has lasted nearly two years!), so I decided to give the device a go and see what I could do with it.  This is my first Android device, so I am not going to pretend to know every iota and inch of what the platform is capable of, nor am I able to compare it to other, arguably more capable, devices (eg: Samsung; LG; et cetera).  But I digress, here is my review of the RCA Viking Pro 10.1: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.

The Good

When I was shopping for a tablet before this one showed up on my doorstep, I knew I wanted it to be at least as big as an iPad's (9.7 inches).  The device's 10.1 inch screen definitely fulfilled that requirement.  The pixel density, although not the best compared to other models, is adequate to my needs.  This device comes with Android 5.0 Lollipop.  While it's not the latest and greatest (6.0 Marshmallow is out), one is able to run many of the latest apps on the Google Play Store.  The 1.4 ghz quad-core processor makes running programs quick and convenient.  On the other hand, it only has 1GB of RAM which is considered on the lower end of the tablet pecking order.  In its defense though, it's not terrible either.  So long as you don't have a lot of programs running at the same time, the tablet can be quick (put it another way, if a horse doesn't have a lot to carry, it can run faster).  As I am a fan of Humble Bundles, I am happy to say that many of the programs offered throughout the years are compatible with this device (it's great getting a device and already having over a hundred games for it ready to go).  One thing that suprised me was the USB A port.  This was baffling as other Android devices I've seen typically only ship with a USB-mini port, but this one shipped with both the full sized port and the micro-port (the latter is ONLY used for charging though).  With this full-sized USB port, one is able to plug in a mouse or a gaming controller and use them with the tablet to either play a game, navigate, et cetera.  The tablet comes with 32GB of flash memory with support for up to 64GB more (though I can confirm 32GB more as that's the card I am using).  The device comes with a keyboard which attaches itself to the bottom of the tablet without the need of a USB or Bluetooth connection.  The tablet and keyboard and fold together and close like a laptop, offering some protection for the screen (though I would still recommend getting a case).  The buttons on the keyboard are a bit small for my hands (especially when compared to my laptop), but it's actually really responsive and will do in a pinch if somehow your laptop is unavailable.  Throw in a USB mouse and you might have the workings of an okay laptop.

The Bad

One thing I got excited about with the Android platform over iOS is being able to easily transfer files from my computer to the device via drag-and-drop (it gets complicated trying to transfer files from Lubuntu to an iPod Touch).  However, I am unable to do so with this tablet.  The box for "USB Computer Connection" is greyed out and the device will not go into USB mode upon connecting to a compuer (Windows OR Linux).  I have also tried activating Developer Mode, but no luck with the USB connection.  As the OS is Lollipop 5.0, I understand there were some bugs that came with this iteration of Android.  However, when I plug the device powered off in my PS3, the system will say there's an unknown USB device connected, so I know the hardware's guts are working.  I've contacted RCA Customer Support for help, but the last piece of correspondence suggested they were looking for an answer, so we'll see...  The one speaker on the entire device is located on the back of the machine and it isn't particularly loud.  For that, I suggest investing in some speakers or headphones (Pro-Tip, hold your tablet with the palm of one of your hands cupping over the speaker to get a little more sound out of it).  Another thing that I'm not particularly hot on is the camera.  There are two on the device, one in the front and one in the back, but neither are truly anything special.  The front is a VGA camera (which is okay for Skype or chatting), but the back is only 2MP which is what my current three year old non-smartphone has.  The only thing the tablet has over my phone's camera is a zoom feature.  However, I digress, these things are considered luxury items (you don't "need" a camera to have a tablet) and RCA caters more to the budget conscience consumer, so sacrifices were made in order to keep costs down.  While the keyboard streamlines and makes productivity on the device more enjoyable, the mousepad contained within isn't up to par with the rest of the device (slow responsiveness, if any at all).  The battery doesn't last for more than an afternoon of work, so be prepared to use this device sparingly or be tethered to an outlet.  Lastly, the overall build quality of the tablet isn't the best.  While the device has some heft to it, the exterior feels cheap and plasticky.  When my 3DS XL feels like a better build, there is a problem.

The Ugly

Overall, is it a bad tablet?  Absolutely not!  While I admit that I am still learning the ins and outs of the Android platform, I'm really happy being able to learn on the RCA Pro Viking 10.1".  I've played with a few other Androids before (eg: my girlfriend's old Virgin Mobile phone), but this is the first device I can truly call "mine" and tinker with.  There are a some short comings, the most damning one of all is the lack of "drag-and-drop" (which, like I said, is likely a software issue which I hope will be addressed in a future update), but there is a lot of good to be said about this device.  I love that I can write blogs, do spreadsheets (albeit a bit clunky), and about 95% of what I can do on my laptop (while saving a LOT of energy, no less).  While I doubt RCA will be able to compete with the likes of Samsung as far as quality, this is still a good tablet for what it's worth.

**Three and a half stars our of five.  You get what you pay for, but what you get is pretty good.**