If you want to run linux and are getting a laptop, and see this wireless card listed in the specs:

Realtek RTL8191SEvB

Run. Run as far as you can from any laptop that has this wireless card.

The Realtek RTL8191SEvB wireless card has SO MANY troubles with linux that it's a shame that it was ever included as a wireless option for any laptop. Only Ubuntu works with the RTL8191SEvB and that too, in a patchy sporadic way. NONE of the other linux distros include the driver to the RTL8191SEvB. What is worse is it throws a ZILLION errors when you try to compile it from the driver posted on the Realtek website.

RTL8191SEvB is quite plainly the WORST-SUPPORTED wireless card EVER on linux. There is NO support and all advice on the internet about how to get it working is useless, time-wasting and has a ZERO success rate.

I hate you System76, for putting the RTL8191SEvB wireless card on Pangolin Performance. I hate you because only Ubuntu has patchy support for this card and I am pretty much bound to the sucky OS if I ever want wireless working even half-decently. For all your linux-centric philosophy, putting the RTL8191SEvB wireless card on your Pangolin Performance PanP5 COMPLETELY traps your users into Ubuntu - which is just as much of a resource-hog as the worst windows. You are a ludicrous snobbish company. Your customer support maybe fast and responsive but NOT helpful AT ALL when it comes to RTL8191SEvB installation on linux distros other than Ubuntu.

Stay away from realtek RTL8191SEvB. For good measure, also stay away from System76.

A bunch of us trooped ALL the way to the outer harbour to get on the grand balloons but there was nothing but a couple port-a-potties on site.


I decided not to shoot them and instead, got these cool shots of just how desolate it is out there.




(e:Paul) and I got a complementary cross-phone android shot at the desolate shore. See the companion shot at: (e:paul,54567)


We got some cheese and cream puffs in the city hall reception later.

But I am fairly sure this is not how things were managed and run back at the Pan American Exposition of 1901 - which this event was supposed to emulate.

The citibration people had a twitter account and a whole webpage and several announcement avenues but they never took the effort of either scheduling an alternative rain-date or even announcing the cancellation of the balloon event till it was almost 6 PM and we were already there. If you have been a resident of Buffalo for any length of time, you know how unpredictable our weather can be. Look at how those trees were being almost being flattened to the ground at the outer harbour.



Not anticipating weather-related issues is so very odd, especially when you are planning to launch wind-dependent balloons at one of the windiest spot in the city and especially, when you knew that there was a thunderstorm on the forecast for the region on the balloon-launch day more than a week ahead.

Badly done, Citybration.

This Bergamot plant in (e:PMT)'s back garden makes really excellent Earl Grey tea.

It's quite unlike any Earl Grey I have ever had. The flavour is sharp and if made without any other tea and steeped for around 5 minutes, completely takes away any residual tiredness and has the capacity to defog your brain.

I didn't quite get the money-shot of the other visitor to the garden ((e:Paul,54519)) but here he is, hiding away and chomping in the herb patch.


I can't wait to see if (e:PMT) will be able to set up a stall at the Elmwood Saturday Market from what ends up growing out of these beds!

It's only slightly dried up. It has gone into the oven for roasting now.

I am planning to make a pumpkin and lentil soup like this one:

Noticed some interesting new shops on the strip...

I like the concept of Off Beat Emporium. Most of the furniture near the display window had tags that announced "SOLD". Guess the shop must be popular.


I somehow never walk past it when it's open.


The O3 café is ready to open (or maybe already open) in the block before Spot Coffee.


There's something fresh but industrial about a kitchen done up with grey, green and stainless steel. The grey makes it somewhat cold but the spring green is fun. And of course stainless steel is my favourite accent for any kitchen. 2/3. Not bad. Plus I really like that hanging lamp. I want that for home.


A million salads, sandwiches and wraps are on the menu. I need to check this out some Wednesday after Yoga. Wonder if they will be open for dinner though... The menu looks very breakfast-y/lunch-y. Click on the menu for a HUGE version.


The coop is still selling the original herbmare salt but the orange discontinued tag has moved to the next item on its left. Makes me suspect that they might be using the "discontinued" orange tag as an innovative sales strategy.

Are more people likely to think that a discontinued item is always at a steeper "discount" and thus, a better deal than a regular item on "sale"?

In this cases organic is not better than natural.

The Organic variety has some crazy preservatives and additives while the natural variety doesn't. If Annie's can successfully create and market the "natural" variety, why do they even need the "organic" version with preservatives anyway? Why not just sell the natural line? Doesn't make sense.

Solé has made creative use of that wall...