title: CountDownTimer: "Can't create handler inside thread that has not called Looper.prepare()"
body: <p>I know the general problem of "Can't create handler inside thread that has not called Looper.prepare()" has been asked before, but I am struggling to understand how it applies in this case.  </p>
  
  <p>I am trying to construct a new CountDownTimer in a non-UI thread, which I guess is the cause of this error, but I don't really understand why the timer would need to be used in the main thread.  From what I can see, it looks like it has a callback handler that needs to run in a thread that has a looper, which the non-UI thread does not have by default.  It seems my options are: 1) Make this non-UI thread have a Looper or 2) make some strange method on my UI thread that can construct this timer, both which seem goofy to me.  Can someone help me understand the implications?  </p>
  
  <p>Also, does anyone know of any useful links that shed light on the Looper and MessageQueue?  I don't grasp them well, as I am sure I have shown.  Thank you!</p>