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BEST BETS: "Jessica Jones," "Big Trouble/Escape from New York" & More October 2016 Highlights
Comic Books
Confession time: I've always had a soft spot for the whole alternate universe concept vis a vis superheroes. The idea of folks like Superman having completely different adventures — maybe even being completely different people! — just thrilled me as a young comic book collector for reasons I can't really quite to explain (although the cynic in me might say it might have had something to do with the fact that these stories were allowed the grace of an actual ending). Whatever the reason, imaginary stories, parallel worlds, alternate universes, Earths 1-52, I loved em all. As a kid my big addiction was trying to get a complete run of the first run of Marvel's "What If?" series (it wasn't that hard).
So when Warner Brothers announced that their next straight-to-DVD animated film was going to be titled Crisis on Two Earths I acted a bit like Hugh Herbert. On the other hand, the company's last offering, Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, was abysmal, and left a bad taste in my mouth for days. Would this new film run along similar lines? Was I foolish to get my hopes up?
I needn't have worried. Crisis on Two Earths is a fun, action-packed superhero cartoon. It's not particularly deep or thoughtful (the two-part Justice League cartoon that's on the second disc offers more in the way of character development and philosophical insight), but it's solidly written (by Dwayne McDuffie), animated, acted and otherwise produced. I wasn't in thrall to it, but I didn't feel my time was being wasted either (and these days that's a big compliment as far as I'm concerned). It's certainly one of the more entertaining DC movies I've watched.
The story starts when the Lex Luthor from an alternate reality (or Earth 3 as we DC nerds know it) shows up in the "main" DC world asking for help from Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and the rest of the gang (see the image at the top of this post). His problem? On his world, the Justice League's counterparts, known as the Crime Syndicate, are kicking ass and taking names, with only the heroic Luthor (up being down on this planet, you see) being barely able to keep the peace. What's more, the Syndicate is putting together an ultimate weapon that would make the threat of nuclear weapons (the world's only threat against them at this point) useless.
From there it's basically a mosaic of well-choreographed fight scenes, interspersed with cameos from some of the lesser stars in DC's roster. A lot of those kinds of guest appearances annoy me to a degree in the sense that I always get the feeling that DC is trying way too hard to convince me that their characters are really, really awesome, even when they're not — i.e. "Look, Aquaman's beating up the evil Marvel family even though he's much weaker than they are! Isn't he great? Why aren't you reading more Aquaman comics?" (I confess I did like seeing who ended up as the President, though).
Still, there's a lot of nice touches here. I liked, for example, how Superman's counterpart, Ultraman, acted like a big goombah — Ray Liotta meets Charles Atlas. I also enjoyed how Superwoman suggested all the kink laden in Wonder Woman's DNA without ever becoming too suggestive.
The most interesting character of them all was easily Owlman — a psychotic version of Batman voiced very nicely by James Woods — which is not surprising, considering they spend most of the time focusing on him. He's clearly the big villain of the film, so it won't be too surprising when I say the whole film comes down to him and the Caped Crusader battling it out for the safety of the entire multiverse. As a result, a lot of the other characters — Green Lantern, the Flash — are given short shrift, but Owlman's such an entertaining bad guy I really didn't mind.
The only serious problem I had was with the dreary subplot involving the Martian Manhunter wooing the President's daughter. It didn't do anything to further the plot, kept grinding the movie down to a near-halt and only serves to underscore how much of a third banana J'onn J'onzz is, since he doesn't actually help the rest of the League at all, except to provide a little deus ex machina at the end.
The DVD comes with a few extras that are worth noting, the main one being a short starring The Spectre. Written by Steve Niles, the cartoon sports an anime-heavy style quite different from Crisis' sleek, streamlined look, with a 70s setting that feels straight out of Boogie Nights, bell bottoms and all. I've never been a big Spectre fan — I've always thought he was far too powerful and aloof to be interesting — and this short really didn't do anything to change my mind. It's stylish, but bubble-headed and obvious — there's no real mystery surrounding the plot, despite the pretense of one.
The DVD also boasts a preview of the next DC film, Under the Red Hood, which, I'm sorry, looks godawful, and a documentary of sorts titled "DCU: The New World," wherein Dan Didio, Geoff Johns, Paul Levitz and a bunch of other folks talk about how gobsmackingly awesome Identity Crisis and Infinite Crisis were. Since I absolutely loathe both of those comics and consider them to be responsible for a host of bad decisions that currently plague the comics industry, I don't think I have to offer too much of my opinion for you to glean my feelings toward this pompous bit of fluffery. (I will note, however, that the most amazing thing about the doc is how they never once talk about the plot to either series, so that a newcomer could watch the thing and still not have the slightest idea what either comic is about.)
Still, it wasn't enough to dampen my enjoyment of Crisis on Two Earths. It remains a smart, solid film that DC fans in particular are going to get a kick out of. Especially if you've got a thing for that whole "alternate universe" booshwah.
Is this the DVD where one of the extras includes a lengthy discussion of the concept of parallel universes? If so, I caught that section at least one day when my LCS had it playing.
Talk about belaboring the obvious… good lord. It's 2010, folks, the concept of parallel worlds is pretty much taken for granted by the general public, let alone the likely audience for this DVD.
The fact that they same dvd (if I'm correct) also included "a documentary of sorts titled "DCU: The New World," wherein… folks talk about how gobsmackingly awesome Identity Crisis and Infinite Crisis were" suggests that they were seriously desperate to pad out this thing.
Next time, guys, just fill up the disc with episodes of JLA or something.
Other then James Wood's character of Owlman, the voice acting in this movie was horrible.
After reading this review, I'm convinced that I'm going to hate this movie, as I disagree with almost every opinion presented
I disagree with Upstart. While James Woods does turn in an awesome Owlman, the rest of the voice talent works quite well too. The only one lacking is Baldwin as Batman, but it's hard not to directly compare him to Woods' Owlman, so I'm not really sure how his performance would hold up on its own.
Gotta wait the thirty day Warner Bros.-imposed limit on DVDs from Netflix before I can see this.
I hate that stupid policy.
Wraith — there are two JL episodes on the second disc in addition to the rotten documentary. Why they didn't have a doc delving into the DC's history of different Earths and talking about Gardner Fox, etc., I don't know. I would have preferred that, honestly.
Upstart — I dunno, I didn't mind the other voices. Or, I should say, they didn't leave any impression on me one way or the other. Woods was the only one that stood out.
What are the 2 JL episodes? JLU episodes? Are they "The Justice Lords" episodes?
They should be.
Also, Batman : B&TB did an awesome Owlman crossover last season where Batman teamed up with Earth 2's Red Hood.
Chris — yeah, now there's a fine idea. So much of the DCU history revolves around alternate earths and time crises; plenty to talk about.
Squashua — Yeah, it's the "Justice Lords" episodes.
Then that is pretty damn cool / totally appropriate. Kudos.
I guess I'll do what I always do… Rent this from the library and see if it's actually any good. That's what I've done since liking portions of Gotham Knight, but wishing I hadn't actually spent money on it. Wonder Woman was pretty decent, but again not worth buying, GL: First Flight was weak, and Public Enemies was absymal.
Even if the movie is good, I fully expect Billy Baldwin to suck as Batman. Why the hell don't they just use Kevin Conroy every freakin' time?? There's no better Batman, and there never will be. Likewise, why go with anyone other than Clancy Brown as Luthor? Either Tim Daly or George Newbern as Supes (they were both good) just makes sense too.
If I do enjoy it, I probably still won't buy it just because of the voice casting. No Conroy, no Brown: NO SALE.
Squashua, don't expect the extras if you wait for it from Netflix. This stupid new policy they have with WB also apparently means "rental only" discs with no bonuses. I just got "The Invention of Lying" from them yesterday and there were absolutely no extra features. Don't know if this will extend to all WB videos but I wouldn't be surprised if there was nothing but the movie. It's a stupid policy from WB that's never going to compel me to pay $20 for any single movie when I can wait 4-6 months and get it cheaper (or even better, used and cheaper yet) but corporate greed has reared its ugly head.
Shaun — (btw, it's not often that I find people that spell Shaun the same way) I totally agree about the voice acting, especially with Conroy. I'll watch it to give it a fair shot, but I'm willing to bet the justice lords episodes end up being far superior. It's kind of weird how they seem to have lost the magic from the JL/JLU era.
The voice acting took some getting used to. James Wood was excellent though. Martian Manhunter was great! When will he get a film? Such a cool character.
Also, I feel that DC animation is running out of ideas for action sequences. How about stepping up the game some more? Fight scenes are always fun to watch, but they've got to get more creative.
Will the SPECTRE short film be available on the single disc edition or only on the 2 disc special edition?
"… how gobsmackingly awesome Identity Crisis and Infinite Crisis were. Since I absolutely loathe both of those comics and consider them to be responsible for a host of bad decisions that currently plague the comics industry,"
Could not agree more.
I think you've hit the nail on the head. This little film is very enjoyable, without ever rising quite to the level that the old DCAU Justice League series did. Although, since the story was created to be used in the animated Justice League continuity, as a bridge between JL and JLU, you can sort of peek behind the surface adjustments they made and see how this would have worked in that context.
There's an awesome line towards the end from Batman to Owlman, if you haven't seen it yet, I'll leave you discover it yourself. But as awesome a line as it is, I can't help thinking it would have been 10 times more awesome if spoken by Kevin Conroy.
I like the review, but have a big problem with these comments:
"A lot of those kinds of guest appearances annoy me to a degree in the sense that I always get the feeling that DC is trying way too hard to convince me that their characters are really, really awesome, even when they're not — i.e. "Look, Aquaman's beating up the evil Marvel family even though he's much weaker than they are! Isn't he great? Why aren't you reading more Aquaman comics?""
"The only serious problem I had was with the dreary subplot involving the Martian Manhunter wooing the President's daughter. It didn't do anything to further the plot, kept grinding the movie down to a near-halt and only serves to underscore how much of a third banana J'onn J'onzz is, since he doesn't actually help the rest of the League at all, except to provide a little deus ex machina at the end."
The DC Universe is not just the "Big 5″. I for one am getting tired of Batman and Superman being considered the "only" interesting characters. I love them both as characters, but I also feel that Aquaman and Martian Manhunter are just as good. They are not weak characters. Neither are Wonder Woman, Firestorm, Captain Marvel, Green Arrow, Black Lightning, Black Canary, Red Tornado, and a whole bunch more.
Of course, it's just the reviewer's opinion, but it's a pretty limited world view if only the most popular characters are considered "important". The "biggest" are the best. Why does being "the third banana" need to be an insult? You don't like the character fine, but you don't have to be an ass about it
Another thing I find with this – why do some people need their "action" stories have to be all action, no story. Transformers 2 was just action – no substance whatsoever. Sure, it was popular, but it was horrible. Without the sub plots – J'onn's for example – they are not actually characters we can care about. Someone seeing the DC character's for the first time can at least understand J'onn is the last of his entire race and what he has lost, and that he is not just a Superman clone. Superman was a baby when he lost his planet – J'onn lost his wife and daughter as well as everything else so he has to deal with that loss more that Clark ever had to.
Maybe I am just tired of mindless action, giving us a story with mindless characters we have no care for, and that's what people want. We have come to a point where "popcorn" entertainment has no soul. And that's what everyone likes. It's just sad…
I really liked this movie, and liked it more that they included some of the other very important DC characters in it. I like the entire DCU, good and bad, and it's great when the ones who are not considered "icons" are showcased. Adding them to this movie is about showcasing them as well, not trying to trick anyone into liking them. And Aquaman is tough – people just refuse to see that.
I would suggest the ostrander/mandrake series of The Spectre. I never found the character interesting prior (or since) until I read their stellar series. It is a great read, bringing an overly powerful and perceivably aloof character a much needed dose of humanity…
"Shaun — (btw, it's not often that I find people that spell Shaun the same way)"
Well, there's former teen idol Shaun Cassidy.
True though… Sean and Shawn seem to be the most common spellings. Of course, I've found a ton more over the past few years. Baseball player Chone Figgins, fomer baseball player Shawon Dunston, I think I saw Shonn somewhere recently (maybe another athlete?), and least a couple of others that currently escape me.
Also agreed that the I'll probably find the Justice Lords on the JL animated series more enjoyable. I'll give it a shot (via library) anyhow, but for me the bar is now pretty low on these DCUA movies. If this was meant as bridge between the JL and JLU series, I think reuniting the original cast (and using the characters from the original series) might've made more sense.
I'm being closed-minded, I know, but I want to hear Conroy when I see animated Bats, Clancy Brown when I see Luthor, Carl Lumbly when I see Martian Manhunter, etc. Still, for free there's nothing to lose.
Ya know, sometimes I'm embarrassed to call myself a comic fan, just because it associates me with some of the biggest idiots around.
To say that the last few DC movies were "abysmal, not worth buying, etc" is sheer idiocy. I don't know what you people watch, that serves as an alternative and/or standard (World War Hulk? surely you gest), but WW, GL, S&B: PE, were all great movies. I watched them numerous times each, and I'm sure that JL:C2E will be just as great.
Anyways, I leave you all to your rants.
I actually enjoy them NOT using Conroy and Daly. Even though Conroy is a crucial element to my favorite incarnatino of Batman, I feel like he should stay with the particular continuity he's established in, cause its fun to see how another actor tackles the character. Personally, and I'm probably the only one, I loved Jeremy Sisto's Batman in New Frontier (that and Wonder Woman are the only DC-Direct movies that I'd watch more than once), and was excited to hear that Mark Harmon would be Superman in COTE.
The concept of "Parallel Earths" might be known better today, but I rarely see it explained, much less its implications considered. Think about it: if you found out that another planet is discovered to be EXACTLY like Earth, even down to having the same people, how would you feel? Wouldn't you go "what kind of game is God playing?" Or maybe, "If there's more than one me, which one is the REAL one?" or "If everything repeats almost the same, then is my fate already decided??"
Yet, you rarely if EVER see that in comics. Instead the characters go "Huh, isn't that curious" and then (after a superfight, of course) just go back to their lives as if they hadn't learned a major secret of existence itself. Heroes with tragic origins -like Batman or Superman- should in particular question the meaning of all this.
I haven't seen this video, but I expect it to do the same thing (it would be interesting if they at least questioned things for a minute.)
Aquaman is awesome and the whole reason I'll be buying this DVD! He's been around longer than Flash or Green Lantern and he's definitely more of a household name than either of those guys. He may have gotten a bad rap, but how is he a lesser star…? Than Martian Manhunter? Really?
Uh…you drop a "Hugh Herbert" reference, then call _other_ people pompous? Amazing.
You tell em samurai. I loved public enemies along with GL first flight. Haven't seen WW but can't wait to and I'm sure this new jl one will be good too!
I don't know…I must be watching completely different DC Animated movies. I liked New Frontier. I liked Green Lantern. I've never been a Wonder Woman fan, so I have not seen that one. Liked Public Enemies. And, I liked Crisis on Two Earths. I'll give you that William Baldwin's Batman didn't have as much growl as the previous voices for the character, but this whole story was flipped. We were looking at the League as the alternate reality, not so much the Syndicate. I kinda liked that. I'm sure that there are a million reasons why the voices that we're used to weren't available…
I'm no fan of Jason Todd, but Under The Red Hood interests me, if only for Bruce Greenwood's interperetation of Batman. He may come as close as Bader to Conroy's signature voice…Under The Red Hood could be the next Mask of the Phantasm. I didn't particularly care for the story, but it was…interesting…
What, no Power Ring in the Crime Syndicate?
Greg R — That doesn't make me pompous. That makes me a nerd.
mdk — No, he's there. He just doesn't have much to do.
Crisis was ok, but not great. Firstly, it wasn't Kevin Conroy voicing Batman, which automatically takes off points. And why did Batman look older, with those face lines, than anybody else in the League? Secondly, the lack of League members confused me. At the end of Justice League Unlimited, we had a slew of Leaguers. At the very least, where was Hawkgirl? There was a parallel Hawkgirl, so where was ours?
President _____ was great, but his daughter…ugh, that was unnecessary.
A quick question: who was the other "Made Man" that fought alongside (who i'm guessing) parallel Capt. Marvel and Capt. Marvel Junior? If that was parallel Mary Marvel…hahaha, too absurd.
It was "Uncle Marvel".
I love the DC animated releases – way better than dismal Marvel (and I say that with the utmost respect). So far all of the DC animated series have been really good with the slight exception of Green Lantern, which wasn't really bad – but could have been done a tad bit better! I can't wait to go and purchase this release from Target (way cheaper than Bestbuy) nad has a few more amenities…sometimes! I also purchase Planet Hulk last week. On a scale of 1thru 10 – I will give this feature a 7. They totally deviated from the original story and I was miffed to say the very least! DC is soooo way ahead with there features than Marvel (What happened to Avi Arad?) and fans are letting DC know because they are purchasing! I really hated the journalist here that spoke so negatively about this new release. I felt as though he was reviewing the lastest Sade album (Solidier of Love, which is GREAT mind you!) DC continue to keep the animation flowing and we fans will support you – but please don't take us for granted because as you know fans will turn on you…"heck, ask team at Marvel or better yet, ask, Stan Lee"!!!
Just so you you know, there aren't any Aquaman comics that you can buy right now and there haven't been for a long time. He's been dead in the comic universe for ages and while he was resurected in Blackest Night as a black lantern he was only featured for 1 issue.
So while you might think the movie was telling you to go buy an Aquaman comic in couldn't because there aren't any. (And if you buy some old used Aquaman comic it's not like DC makes any money off it.)
Sounds to me like you're just too fixated on searching for cynisicsm and things to hate that you couldn't just enjoy the celebration of a character that frankly isn't represented enough. Lighten up man it's only a movie.
I liked it, but there were some things that bugged me:
1. Lex Luthor, a genius, pronouncing "nuclear" as "nukyooler". The voice director should have caught that.
2. The lack of Conroy. I'm sorry, but no Baldwin, least of all Billy, could replace Kevin Conroy.
3. J'onn J'onzz was essentially useless, and his sub-plot seemed to be a way to give him something to do.They could have scrapped him and used someone else.
4. At one point, Ultra Man punches Lex Luthor in the head. His unarmored, unprotected head. Now, I'm sorry, but if Superman punches you in the head, and he's evil and doesn't hold back, then your head will be gone. Just… Gone. They really should have had that punch be to the chest, or they might have considered that the genius Luthor would have some sort of head protection before fighting Ultra Man.
First of all, I completely agree that Kevin Conroy is a necessity for an effective and likeable Batman. William Baldwin simply does not have any of the edge or power that Conroy brings to the character. Instead William comes off as a rather dull, monotone Batman who sounds as if he should be running a library instead of striking fear into his enemies. I don't understand why DC seems hellbent on ruining each of their iconic characters by replacing excellent voice talent with boring lifeless ones. DC has continually ruined other animated movies & DC: Universe Online by miscasting Adam Baldwin (no relation to any of the Baldwins) as Superman over the vastly superior Superman voice talents of George Newbern and Tim Daly. I like Adam Baldwin fine, but not as Superman. As for William Baldwin I can't say I've seen any of his work before but I can say that he is no where near Kevin Conroy's superior Batman. I mean, this is not rocket science people. How hard is it to keep using consistent voice actors and consistent animation styles throughout your entertainment medium. It is extremely distracting and truly detracts from the overall quality of these animated movies when the characters voices are lackluster shadows of what we've grown to know and love from years of faithfully watching the animated series. But I digress. The second issue I found with this film pertains to Owlman in comparison to Batman. Most of the other parallel universe "evil" superheroes mimicked their Justice League counterpart fairly well. However, in the case of Owlman, he seemed wildly superior to Batman. His suit amplifies his strength to Wonder Woman proportions, it auto-deploys a gas mask, it has claws, it was basically armor plated all over, and it has a metallic cape that grants the ability to glide (an ability that is inconsistent with Batman's character for some reason). In other words, Owlman had all of Batman's agility, fighting prowess, intelligence, and even batarangs of sorts, and yet he also had all these massive amplifications that dwarfed Batman. He was the only doppelganger that massively surpassed his Justice League counterpart. In fact, one could almost argue that this was the exact opposite case for Wonder Woman's doppelganger named "Superwoman," as she seemed to lack Wonder Woman's unbreakable Rope of Truth, and her deflective wrist guards, thus making her inferior to the original. It can't merely be stated that the Crime Syndicate world just has a better Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Flash, Wonder Woman, and Martian Manhunter variant as this is never actually shown or insinuated (with respect to Owlman) in this movie. After all, the Justice League continually defeats Joker and Lex Luthor in their own world. Simply give them the desire to kill and swap their roles of good guy and bad guy and you would pretty much have the same scenario. I guess my point is, that they made Batman pretty much terrible in this whole movie. He wasn't present for a good portion, had a terrible voice actor, and overall would have most likely been defeated by Owlman if not for Owlman's own bomb and parallel universe traversal system. So basically Batman had to use Owlman to beat Owlman. Honestly, I was more impressed with Owlman and thought he was more intriguing to watch during most of the fight scenes, which simply put, should not happen in a Justice League movie. As stated by others, James Woods was one of the only commendable voice talents in this whole movie.
On a scale of 1-10, I would give it an 8.. my only complaint was that Superman got beat up a lot..there is no way super woman or captain super should have beat him up like that..plus owl man was able to go toe to toe with wonder woman? Get out of here..it was good tho..I just would have liked a little more action


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subset: commoncrawl


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I back up a database after a hack and before taking the whole site down and reinstalling afresh.
Following guidelines the new databade got a different prefix than on the previous install-configuration.
Can I re-install the old database?
How do I make the reinstalled database entries to swithc to the new prefix?
Will these overwrite the ones generated since the blogs re-installation?
And, what can I expect to achive? Will the old post text be readable at the permalink addresses where there where before (bar from photos and so on that have to be reinstalled on the images forlders...)
Thanks a lot for taking a look and eventually some advice!


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Toyota Aygo review
It has striking looks, character and is fun to drive. But can the Toyota Aygo match the standards of the latest city cars?
The Toyota Aygo isn't all that mechanically different from its predecessor, but its looks are refreshingly contemporary with a youthful slant.
There's not much power or dynamic capability, and while improvements to the sound-deadening make the interior more refined at speed, it's still some way short of the city car class leaders for motorway driving. Practicality also suffers thanks to the Aygo's super-compact dimensions.
Yet the latest Aygo maintains the same sense of fun as before, and there are small but worthwhile technical improvements under the skin, including some significant advances in vehicle safety. Plus it's super frugal, easy to personalise, and well-connected with the latest x-touch multimedia system. So it may only earn three stars from us, but if you like it - you'll love it!
The original Toyota Aygo really popularised the now-standard formula for a city car - front-wheel drive, three-cylinder engine, a choice of three or five doors and space - just - for four adults. The first-generation car did this formula so well that it was a massive hit for Toyota, and the Japanese brand hasn't tinkered too much with the second-generation model.
Underneath the new car lies many of the mechanicals from the old model, giving it similar dimensions and an identical 1-litre, three-cylinder engine. The biggest upgrade has been to the styling and interior, and the new Aygo debuts with strking manga-inspired looks, and is loaded with new tech.
As with the old car, the Aygo is a joint development with PSA Peugeot Citroen, and the French companies produce the 108 and C1 sharing the same platform and mechanicals. There are more styling differences this time around, though, and the two French offerings also debut a new engine - a 1.2-litre turbocharged unit offering more power than Toyota's engine. There's little of the radical or innovative fuel saving tech that some rivals employ underneath the Aygo's skin. There's not even a stop-start system available in the UK.
The conventional front-wheel-drive platform features MacPherson strut front suspension with a torsion beam rear set-up. While you get ventilated discs brakes at the front, the back end is braked by drums. Steering is by electric-assist rack and pinion.
So the models in the Aygo range are mechanically identical, starting with the entry-level x which features 14ins wheels, projector headlamps, LED DRLS, 2-speaker audio with USB connectivity and hill-start assist.
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The mid-range x-play model highlights include piano black finish for that big 'X' styling graphic emblazoned over the front of the car, a 4-speaker audio system with Bluetooth, steering wheel controls for audio and phone, air-con, a rev-counter, height adjustable driver's seat and 50:50 split rear seat.
The x-pression adds 15ins alloys, more piano black exterior trim parts, fog lights, part-leather sports seats, the x-touch multimedia system with DAB and a rear view camera. For 2016 there's also an x-clusiv model, which adds everything but the kitch sink - albeit at a price.
There is a plethora of 'personalisation' options to choose from too, so it's not surprising that Toyota has put together a trio of themed special editions to help encourage customers to make their minds up in the showroom. x-cite, x-pure and x-clusiv editions all offer exterior colour, style and kit packages that reflect their respective labels.
Aside from the various styling and equipment packages, the only significant options are the choice of three or five door body, a full-length 'x-wave' fabric roof, and the 'x-shift' automated manual gearbox.
Engines, performance and drive
Owners of the previous-generation Aygo will feel at home behind the wheel of the new model. For starters, the 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine is carried over from the old car with small but significant tweaks. Overall refinement is improved, but the engine has the same thrummy soundtrack and eager nature.
You can hear it so clearly because Toyota has done a better job at dampening wind and road noise. It's better at motorway speeds, but still falls some way behind cars such as the Hyundai i10 and VW Up! for long-distance refinement and comfort. The Aygo x-wave also loses out a little bit in terms of wind noise thanks to the cloth roof, but it's better than you'd expect.
Steering that's 14 per cent sharper makes the Aygo ideal for darting around town, although at higher speeds there's significant body roll. The pay-off for that is a supple ride over bumpy roads.
The steering is light and accurate, the Aygo turns into corners keenly and there's decent grip. Body movement is better controlled in some rivals, but the Aygo fared well during our braking tests. Letting the side down is the notchy and reluctant manual gearbox shift action, which oddly isn't as pleasant as the previous-gen Aygo's, even though it's supposed to have been upgraded.
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There may be only one petrol engine available to Aygo buyers, but luckily the 1.0-litre VVT-i unit is an enthusiastic performer that's happy to rev, filling the cabin with a characterful three-cylinder noise. While some may find it intrusive, others will like the rorty tone. Indeed, Toyota engineers say positive customer feedback focused their minds on reducing road and wind noise, specifically so the engine – without getting any louder - could be heard better.
The pleasing tone is fortunate, as particularly long first and second gear ratios mean you need to rev the engine hard to produce power. But there's plenty of performance for nipping around town and the revision in ratios means the engine does feel less strained at a sustained fast cruise, compared to its predecessor. The Aygo's 69bhp is developed at 6,000rpm, and 95Nm of peak torque is delivered at 4,300rpm.
The x-shift automated manual has slightly shorter gear ratios, so feels as though it picks up speed quicker around town – it blips the throttle on downshifts, too. The official performance figures are pegged neck-and-neck for both transmissions though, as each version takes the Aygo from 0-62mph in 14.2secs. Maximum speed for both is 99mph.
Technical upgrades over previous versions of the 1.0 engine are focused on better combustion efficiency, reduced internal friction and exhaust gas flow optimisation. That means you get a new cylinder head with slightly higher compression, plus an exhaust gas recirculation system and freer-flowing catalytic converter among other detail changes.
MPG, CO2 and running costs
Although the 1.0 VVT-i is fundamentally the same unit as used by the Toyota Aygo's predecessor, it's been re-engineered for the new model. A higher compression ratio of 11.5:1, a new low-friction timing chain and a cylinder head with built-in exhaust manifold to save weight have all helped to improve fuel efficiency and cut emissions.
The mods allow Toyota to boast of raising the engine's thermal efficiency (the amount of the fuel's energy it converts to power) to a class-leading 37 percent. That's impressive, but it's a cautionary thought that even in an economy-minded city car like this you're losing 63 percent of the energy in your petrol tank to (mainly) waste heat and friction. And that's in those rare moments when the engine is running at peak efficiency.
Still, the numbers look good. Fuel economy and CO2 emissions have improved by 3.3mpg to 69mpg and 4g/km to 95g/km of CO2 in the five-speed manual model, while the x-shift auto returns 67.3mpg and 97g/km.
Image 7 of 10
Everything qualifies for free 'road tax' thanks to emissions that put the Aygo in VED band A. You can also take advantage of Toyota's attractive finance plans that will get you behind the wheel for less than £100 a month.
Insurance groups
Perhaps the implied 'youth' appeal of its zingy styling makes a difference, but it's more likely to be design details like those relatively expensive projector headlamps that mean the Toyota Aygo will cost you more to insure than some of its more staid-looking city car rivals.
The entry-level Aygo x is rated insurance group six, and the rest of the range falls into group seven.
By way of contrast the entry-level Hyundai i10 starts the bidding off with an impossible-to-beat insurance group one, while the Skoda Citigo, VW up! And SEAT Mii all undercut the Toyota's group ratings too.
With Toyota expecting to sell a quarter of all European Aygos here in the UK, there isn't likely to be a shortage of used models on the market.
In fact, there's been a bit of downward pressure on city car values as a whole, as availability of used models increases. That said, because new prices are relatively low, any percentage shifts may not look too painful when converted to cold hard cash.
Still, some industry predictions have the Toyota Aygo faring worse than cars leaving the same Czech factory wearing Citroen or Peugeot badges. So you may well be looking at an average drop in value after three years of close to 70 percent for the entry-level Aygo, with the Peugeot sneaking-in under 60 percent, and the Citroen splitting the difference.
Interior, design and technology
Toyota has taken a bold approach with the Aygo, ditching the old car's soft curves and rounded details in favour of sharp edges and eye-catching angles. Highlights include the swept-back headlamps, rising window line and tall tail-lights. The double-bubble roof panel is particularly eye-catching.
The car certainly looks more distinctive than the Skoda Citigo, SEAT Mii and VW up! but the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 108 are similar and their clean-cut lines will be more attractive to some.
The same youthful approach continues inside, where there's a gloss black dash finish and a large touchscreen infotainment system, plus a circular steering column-mounted pod that houses the speedo plus digital fuel and rev readouts. Yet while it appears modern and is solidly screwed together, the hard plastics on the dash and doors look and feel fairly cheap. Those details are mainly noticeable because the cabin as a whole is so much more sophisticated than the old car's - the penny-pinching trim predictably stands out.
Image 6 of 10
The big draw compared to rivals like the VW up! and Hyundai i10 is the funky design inside and out, and level of personalisation available on the Aygo. The Japanese hatch is emblazoned with a distinctive 'X' running from the A-pillars to the front grille – just one of a number of parts that can be swapped around in a variety of colours.
There's the allure of that 'x-wave' retractable cloth roof for £850, and Toyota's new x-touch smartphone-optimised infotainment system brings it bang up to date. Buyers can change the colour of the 'X', wheels and rear bumper, as well as a selection of snap-in interior parts. It's a tactic designed to attract young, fashionable customers to the brand, and proves Toyota is trying to put an era of bland designs behind it.
Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment
There are no complaints about the standard kit list, and x-pression cars benefit from air-con, cruise control, DAB radio and Bluetooth. A real highlight is the x-touch multimedia system, which features an intuitive set-up that pairs quickly with a smartphone.
Image 10 of 10
Better still, if you've got an Android device, you can use the Mirrorlink function to duplicate your phone's menus and graphics on the Toyota's touchscreen. While the basic x model has USB connectivity for the stereo, you need to upgrade to the x-play for steering wheel audio controls.
Practicality, comfort and boot space
The new Aygo is slightly longer, wider and lower than its predecessor, so looks a little less truncated from some angles, even though it has an identical wheelbase.
There are two bodystyles offering three or five doors, and the window/glass area differs between them. The five-door version's side glass extends to meet the rear light clusters giving a sense of added length. Unfortunately it's an illusion, and you shouldn't be surprised to learn rear seat passenger comfort is not a strength in either Aygo version.
There is a pair of three-point seat-belts in the rear for adults, and no space for a third, but a pair of ISOFIX child seat mounts is standard in the back too.
The news is better up front, where the driver sits relatively high up with a good view out. There's a reasonable range of adjustment on the seat and steering wheel – although not quite enough for taller drivers, who may struggle to get comfortable.
There are two cup holders, a good-sized glove box and door bins big enough to hold a 500ml bottle of water.
Image 9 of 10
The Aygo is a very compact car, so perfectly at home in the city where its dimensions make it a breeze to thread down side-streets and fit in even the smallest parking spaces.
It's actually a few mm longer than the previous generation – 25mm to be exact – but 5mm lower. The front and rear tracks have been widened by 8mm to improve the stance, and while the wheelbase is the same as before at 2,340mm, Toyota has still managed to find an extra 9mm of cabin space. It's still a smidge shorter than a Hyundai i10 or Skoda Citigo, but the trade-off in lost practicality is evident the moment you need to carry passengers or put luggage in the boot.
Leg room, head room & passenger space
Front headroom has improved slightly, despite the lower roofline thanks to a curved 'double-bubble' roof and front seats lowered by 10mm. However, the small side windows at the back and high-backed front seats make the rear feel claustrophobic and legroom is seriously restricted even for smaller passengers. Rivals like the Hyundai i10 feel significantly roomier. The five-door model makes things easier for rear passengers to get in and out at least, which makes it the pick of the range.
The £850 'x-wave' option brings an electrically retractable folding roof that slides back to the rear headrests in around ten seconds, or bunches up halfway to act as a sunroof. If you look below the roofline, however, the Aygo's lines – and more importantly its passenger accommodation - are unaffected.
Image 4 of 10
The new Aygo makes the most of its compact dimensions with a deep but shallow boot that's 29 litres bigger than its predecessor's at 168 litres – enough for a couple of suitcases or a set of golf clubs.
It will be fine for many owners' purposes, but if cargo capacity is your main consideration, the Aygo does lose out badly to the Hyundai i10, VW Up, Skoda Citigo and SEAT Mii, all of which offer capacities north of 250 litres.
The design isn't ideal either as there's a fairly high lip between the boot floor and your luggage, and the rear seats – with optional split fold – don't even lie flat, instead leaving an awkward step.
Reliability and Safety
A string of recalls has taken its toll on Toyota's reputation for quality and durability. Yet while it slipped down to 17th place in our Driver Power 2014 satisfaction survey, owners rated its cars eighth for reliability in the 2015 poll.
On top of that, the Aygo feels robustly constructed, while the engine is based on the tried and tested unit used in the old car.
There was good news in the NCAP test results too, when the latest generation Aygo moved up – along with its Citroen C1 and Peugeot 108 siblings – to a four star rating from its previous three stars. Adult and child occupant safety were both rated at 80 percent in their relevant tests. The four star rating puts the Toyota in the top rank in the city car class – a class where financial restraints mean fewer active and electronic safety aids are typically deployed, limiting the scope for 5-star awards.
That said, all versions of the Aygo get four airbags, Isofix child seat mountings, stability control and tyre pressure monitoring, while you can spec-up on options like the range-topping x-clusiv special edition's reversing camera and automatic lights.
Image 8 of 10
The Toyota Aygo comes with a five-year warranty - and a 100,000 mileage limit – that will bring valuable piece of mind to anyone considering holding onto their car for a while. The offer beats the Citroen C1 and Peugeot 108 by two years, in spite of the fact they're built in the same plant.
Toyota also offers a strong three year paint defect warranty, and 12 years anti-corrosion cover – although you'd need to be dedicated to keep the dealer inspections up to date that long.
The Toyota Aygo requires a major service every 20,000 miles, with a first intermediate service at 10,000 miles and at subsequent 10k intervals in-between the majors.
The fixed price dealer services are £99 and £179 respectively, and you can pay up front using one of the dealer service plans, or even spread the cost with monthly instalments.
Service costs are comparable to the Hyundai i10 which costs from £349 for three years inclusive maintenance, but less than the VW up! which costs from £16 per month – equal to £576 over three years.
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Slow-Cooked Family-Favorite Beef Stew
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Layer veggies and purchased meatballs in the slow cooker, turn on and go!
In this recipe, it is important to place ingredients in the cooker in the order listed. Longer cooking vegetables are on the bottom where they cook more quickly. Already cooked or faster cooking ingredients are layered on top.
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Atlanta Tops Florida 5-1 - Recap
Atlanta grabbed a 5-1 win over Florida on Saturday, as Tim Hudson was credited with a win at Turner Field.
Atlanta was favored by -133 and came through for bettors backing them. The game went UNDER the consensus closing total of 7.5.
Atlanta got 7 innings from Tim Hudson, who gave up 1 earned run on 6 hits, while striking out 5. He earned the victory, while the Braves got 3 RBIs from Dan Uggla in the win.
Florida's starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez worked 5 innings, giving up 8 hits and 4 earned runs while striking out 5 in the loss. They got 2 hits from Emilio Bonifacio in a losing cause.
Atlanta enjoyed an edge at the plate with a 9-7 advantage in hits.


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Five additional men claim abuse at JFK
The attorney representing 11 men who reached a monetary settlement with John F. Kennedy High School over allegations that a brother for a Franciscan religious order sexually assaulted them between 1986 and 1990 at the school says five more men have contacted him to say they also were assaulted.
Atty. Mitchell Garabedian of Boston said the five contacted him through phone calls and emails since the news was released on the settlement involving Brother Stephen P. Baker, the high school, the Diocese of Youngstown and the Franciscan Third Order Regular, of which Baker was a member.
Baker was a religion teacher, baseball coach and sports trainer at JFK from 1986 to 1991 when the assaults purportedly occurred.
Feds indict ex-Valley man in fraud case
A federal grand jury has indicted a man, who operated a Youngstown area ambulette company, on charges he defrauded the Ohio Medicaid program of about $406,000 between August 2008 and August 2011.
Rolando Sepulveda, 51, who operated Med Transportation, and is now believed to be living in Puerto Rico, was charged with seven counts of health care fraud, the U.S. attorney said Thursday.
Sepulveda fraudulently billed Medicaid for rides of patients, who didn't use or need wheelchairs, and for ambulette attendants, when the company used no such attendants, the attorney said.
An ambulette is a specially equipped van designed to carry wheelchair passengers.
Holiday awards
City council members will issue certificates at their next meeting to the owners of the top three residences that were part of last month's Holiday Lights and Decoration Tour.
During the Dec. 14 event, participants on a bus toured the North Side to view outdoor Christmas decorations. Afterward, they judged what they felt were the most decorative and creative displays.
Top finisher was Delores Hall of 44 Saranac Ave., who received a gift basket of wine.
The second- and third-place finishers were Nate Fields, 493 Redondo Road, and Sally Myers, 275 Redondo, respectively.
Fields and Myers received a notebook and pen, said Mary Ann O'Neil, who was the tour's organizer.
Driver indicted in Warren accident
Marcel D. Tipton, charged with felony failure to stop after an accident and tampering with evidence in the New Year's Day accident that seriously injured a 46-year-old bicyclist, has waived a preliminary hearing, and his case was bound over to a Trumbull County grand jury.
His hearing Thursday was in Warren Municipal Court.
Police said Tipton, 27, fled in a 2000 Lincoln Continental after hitting Harold Rice of Scott Street Northeast at 2:48 a.m. at Summit Street and Tod Avenue Northwest. Rice suffered several broken bones and other injuries.
More Metro Digest, A5
These brave victims are to be commended for speaking up and taking action to expose the truth. This is not an easy thing to do
but there is something to keep in mind:
Child predators are very cunning and manipulative. They know every trick on how to groom, threaten, lie, and put the fear of god into their victims and sometimes even their family members.
They also appear to do a lot of good things, they can be very charismatic and you may think they would never harm a child. They have to be this way, in order to not get caught and to continue to abuse
Sexual predators are often powerful and well-loved. It would be comforting if those who preyed on the vulnerable were obvious social misfits whose appearance would somehow set off alarm bells and give us the willies or the creeps. They rarely do. Usually, predators are among the last people we would suspect of sexually violating others. At a party, the predator isn't some oddball sitting alone in a corner because others feel uncomfortable with him. Most often, the predator is the guy throwing the party.
We must overcome the dangerous myth that because someone is successful or warm or caring, he or she couldn't have done that!
Also, we must stop thinking that because a man is old, that somehow he's automatically safe. It's just irresponsible to endanger kids by assuming an adult is harmless simply because he or she may be losing hair, wearing glasses, using hearing aids or walking with a cane. These can be signs of advancing age, but they are not signs that an individual is safe around kids.
It is extremely rare that a child predator has only one or two victims. some have many. Hopefully anyone who has knowledge or may have been harmed by Brother Stephen Baker, will have the courage to come forward and contact the "police", not the church officials. They are not the proper officials to be investigating child sex crimes..
Also keep in mind your silence only hurts, and by speaking up there is a chance for healing, exposing the truth, and therefore protecting others.
Judy Jones, SNAP Midwest Associate Director, 636-433-2511, firstname.lastname@example.com,
"SNAP (The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)


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4 Quai Heydt
67540 Ostwald − France
Tlf: (33) 03 88 66 85 00 Fax: (33) 03 88 66 85 49 E-Mail Official Website
Chateau de l'Ile is located between Strasbourg and the International airport, in the suburban village of Ostwald. The original Chateau de l'Ile building itself is only part of the property. For the most, the wings of the building where the majority of the rooms are located were added recently and they were made in the style of the typical Alsatian houses. All the rooms are very comfortable and very nicely decorated. Particularly the bathrooms are excellent, spacious with double sinks and with power jet showers independent from the tubs, in all bathrooms. This 19th century chateau stands in a 10 acre park in a wooded loop of the Ill River. It allies traditional Alsatian architecture: half-timbering, sand stone, flowered balconies, and terraces. Chateau de l'Ile offers a selection of restaurants: one gastronomically and another specializing in regional cuisine, located at water's edge. This is a perfect location for anyone visiting Strasbourg whether for business or pleasure because it offers the charm of a chateau lifestyle practically at a stone throw from downtown Strasbourg. Its location and its excellent facilities give it the status of a luxury resort. The attractive indoor fitness area has a pool, sauna, hammam and solarium as well as a place to work out. And there is a fitness course if you need help with your resolve!
The Château de l'Ile has 62 rooms of 5 different categories, from the most elegant apartment to the most delightful room including a suite, duplex suite, "Deluxe", "Superior" and "Traditional" rooms, located in either the oldest or the more typically Alsatian part of the Château. All the rooms are elegantly decorated in keeping with their location and enjoy modern comforts. They offer pleasant views over the Ill River or the typical village of Ostwald.
Spacious, second floor rooms, with a nicely sloping ceiling on one side and a balcony from where you can enjoy the uninterrupted view over the nearby river Ill. They have a double bed or twin beds, a marble bathroom with separate shower and bath. - Wi-Fi access, flat screen television (satellite), air-conditioning, mini-bar, hair-dryer.
These rooms are located in the oldest part of the Château where wooden floors, good sized rooms, and selected furniture gives them style and elegance without neglecting comfort. They have a double or twin beds, and their terrace overlooks the river or village. All are equipped with a marble bathroom with separate shower and bath. - Wi-Fi access, flat screen television (satellite), air-conditioning, mini-bar, hair-dryer.
This is a Classic Room located in the oldest part of the Château. It consists of a bedroom with bathroom and a pleasant lounge on the ground floor, and another large, tastefully decorated bedroom with a beautiful bathroom housing a separate bath and shower. Wi-Fi access, flat screen television (satellite), air-conditioning, mini-bar, hair-dryer.
Beautiful, quiet, bright and pleasant rooms overlooking the river or village. They have a double bed or twin beds, a marble bathroom with separate shower and bath. - Air conditioning, Wi-Fi access, mini-bar, hair-dryer, flat screen television.
A magnificent second floor suite with an uninterrupted view over the river Ill which flows alongside the property. This is a luxurious apartment, richly decorated with a large flower filled balcony, entrance hall, dressing room, dining room, office, bedroom, huge marble bathroom with separate shower and bath and a private sauna. - Sauna, Wi-Fi access, flat screen television (satellite), air-conditioning, mini-bar, hair-dryer.
The capital of Alsace, is one of France's greatest cities and the birthplace of paté de foie gras. It was in Strasbourg that Rouget de Lisle first sang "La Marseillaise," the French national anthem. Strasbourg is one of France's major ports, only 3km (2 miles) west of the Rhine. In addition to being host to the Council of Europe, Strasbourg is home to the European Parliament, which convenes at the Palais de l'Europe. In 1871, Strasbourg was absorbed by Germany and made the capital of the territory of Alsace-Lorraine, but reverted to France in 1918. One street is a perfect illustration of the city's identity crisis: more than a century ago it was avenue Napoléon. In 1871, it became Kaiser-Wilhelmstrasse, then boulevard de la République in 1918. In 1940, it became Adolf-Hitler-Strasse, and ended up as avenue du Général-de-Gaulle in 1945.
When contacting a hotel through this website, you are contacting the hotel directly. You will not receive an automated reply, it will be an offer written by a LIVE PERSON at the hotel, to whom you can ask questions before and/or after, you accept the reservation. And they will only ask for a credit card once you accept the offer. Your card will not be charged in advance, it will only be used as a guarantee.
© Copyright 2016 | JP Moser Hotel & Chateau Guide.·


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Crutchfield Customer Review (What's this?)
Excellent protection for my audio rack ...very happy ??
Pros: Sleek design . Like the blue light in front panel..
Cons: None..
Our experts help you pick the ideal gear for your needs.Meet our advisors
Free tech support for the life of your gear.Read about our one-on-one expert help
You may return items that are complete and like new for any reason within 60 days.See the details of our return policy
Earn one point for every dollar you spend and use those points to save on future purchases.Get full details on Crutchfield Rewards
With most stereo and speaker purchases, we offer installation guides, dash kits, wiring harnesses, and speaker accessories at deep discounts. Also, you can just buy our installation guides for $10. (If you buy a new stereo or speakers from us within 60 days, we'll apply the $10 to your order.)Learn more
Our customers have trusted us with their business, and they've helped us win awards for our service.Check out our most recent awards
The manufacturer's warranty always applies.See more details
Our experts help you pick the ideal gear for your needs.Meet our advisors
Free tech support for the life of your gear.Read about our one-on-one expert help
You may return items that are complete and like new for any reason within 60 days.See the details of our return policy
Earn one point for every dollar you spend and use those points to save on future purchases.Get full details on Crutchfield Rewards
We offer vehicle-specific installation instructions, dash kits, wiring harnesses, and speaker accessories at deeply discounted prices with car stereo and speaker purchases. Available for most vehicles.Learn more
Our customers have trusted us with their business, and they've helped us win awards for our service.Check out our most recent awards
The manufacturer's warranty always applies.See more details
Item #: 299MR4000
In Stock
$199.99 Earn up to 200 Rewards points
Our VA-based experts can help.
Protect your entire system with a total of eight AC outlets, plus in/out sets of coaxial and LAN connections.
If you took a survey of Crutchfield employees, you'd find a lot who protect their systems with Panamax power conditioners, including me. The Panamax MR4000 will guard your audio/video system from damaging power spikes as well as the minor day-to-day current fluctuations that can compromise your system's performance over time.
With today's high-definition video and high-resolution audio sources, it's more important than ever to keep noise to a minimum. The seven rear-panel AC outlets employ Panamax's Level 2 noise filtering, which significantly reduces AC line noise.
The MR4000 offers multiple layers of surge protection. Panamax's patented Automatic Voltage Monitoring (AVM) technology continuously monitors the incoming power. In case of an under-voltage or brownout (too little electricity), or an over-voltage (too much electricity), the power to your equipment is automatically switched off. When voltage returns to a safe level, power to the equipment is automatically reconnected.
The other layer of surge protection is Panamax's exclusive Protect or Disconnect™ technology. This ultra-fast circuitry completely protects your equipment from catastrophic surges such as those caused by lightning. When that type of extreme event occurs, the MR4000 automatically disconnects AC power to your equipment.
The MR4000 also provides one set of in/out coaxial terminals to shield your satellite, cable TV or over-the-air antenna connections. A pair of protected Ethernet jacks lets you plug in your laptop and surf the web on a protected connection.
Excellent protection for my audio rack ...very happy ??
Luis, Guaynabo pr
Excellent protection for my audio rack ...very happy ??
Pros: Sleek design . Like the blue light in front panel..
Cons: None..
Good surge protection unit for my audio stand. It has a nice, sleek design as well. I'm happy with the product.
Pros: Sleek design, quality unit
Cons: None
Unit improved sound and internet is greatly improved. Allowed for multiple cables to be hidden and cleaned noise.
Pros: Compact and improved performance of sound bar and internet.
Cons: None
Glad to know a small investment will bring peace of mind. Living in South Florida where is rains every half hour with thunder storms, its good to know my gear is protected. Easy on the eyes and with the ability to bring clean power to your components, it's a win-win!
Clean power management. Keeps my speakers sounding super clean while protecting my equipment. Great product for the price. My only complaint on this component is the obnoxiously bright blue light on the front panel. I relocated my components and now use this light as courtesy lighting in my living room.
Pros: Great price for a power filter. Coax and RJ45 included. Simple. fits on my component shelf, easier cable management.
Cons: Bright light on the front doesnt have an on/off and nor is it dim-able.
If this is any indicator of the performance of the higher models wish I would have bought the one with the higher level conditioning. Mr4000 works really well I noticed an immediate change in the hum in the speakers when no sound is being played , just made me want to try the better ones. Makes for clean installs for home theatre. And a great price of mind. I don't have lighting strikes where I'm at so just the those features alone make it worth it
This replaced a high end surge protector. I was getting terrible background noise in my speakers. This unit eliminated the noise.
Pros: Power filter Long cord Front display
Download the Panamax MR4000 manual
|Total AC Outlets
|High-Current Outlets
|USB Connections
|RF-EMI Filtering
|Joule Rating
|Powerline Network Compatible
|Connected Equipment Guarantee
|Width (inches)
|Height (inches)
|Depth (inches)
|Weight (pounds)
|Parts Warranty
|3 Years
|Labor Warranty
|3 Years
8 Protected & Filtered Power Outlets: The Panamax MR4000 features one front-panel AC outlet and seven rear-panel outlets. All of the AC outlets (front & back) include surge protection and noise filtration.
Note: All outlets (front & back) can be switched on/off from the unit's front-panel power button.
Protect or Disconnect Technology: The Panamax MR4000 employs exclusive Protect or Disconnect technology for surge protection. This ultra fast protection circuitry completely protects your equipment from surges such as lightning. When overwhelmed with extreme catastrophic events, Panamax permanently disconnects AC power to equipment.
Automatic Voltage Monitoring (AVM): Panamax's patented Automatic Voltage Monitoring (AVM) technology continuously monitors the incoming power. In case of an under-voltage or brownout (too little electricity) or an over-voltage (too much electricity) a flashing red lightning bolt will be displayed and power to the equipment is automatically turned off. When voltage returns to a safe level, power to the equipment is automatically reconnected.
Level 2 Noise Filtration: All outlets of the Panamax MR4000 employ Level 2 Noise Filtration; a proprietary technology for removing various types of performance robbing electrical noise from your connected AV equipment.
Signal Wire Protection: Protecting a complete home theater system requires that signal wires coming out of the wall be protected as well. Universal ultra low-loss coaxial protection, as well as LAN/Ethernet protection prevents signal lines from carrying damaging surges while maintaining full high-definition and high-speed Internet signals to your equipment for your connected life.
Front-Panel Lights: Blue decorative lights add an attractive look and feel to your equipment rack or entertainment cabinet.
8' Power Cord w/ Low-Profile Plug: The Panamax MR4000 is fitted with an attached 8' power cord w/ a low-profile IEC 3-prong plug. This 45° angle low profile plug allows your equipment to be as close as it can get to the wall outlet while not blocking an adjacent outlets. The 8' power cord means your installation location isn't restricted by wall outlet location.
Circuit Breaker: A circuit breaker is located on the back panel of the MR4000. The circuit breaker will trip only if the total current draw exceeds the maximum current rating (15A). This means that collectively, all outlets must draw more than 15 amps before the circuit breaker will trip.
$5,000,000 Lifetime Connected Equipment Warranty: Panamax will replace, pay to replace at fair market value, or pay to repair, up to $5,000,000 of equipment that is damaged by an AC surge while connected to a properly installed Panamax surge protector, if the surge protector shows signs of surge damage or is operating outside of design specifications. For coverage conditions and information on how to make a claim, please see the warranty sheet.
At Crutchfield, you'll get detailed, accurate information that's hard to find elsewhere. That's because we have our own in-house Product Research team. They verify what's in the box, check the owner's manual, and record dimensions, features and specs. We stay on top of new products and technologies to help people make informed choices.
Previous experience with panamax [ Bernard Jun 17, 2016 ]
I live in a area where lighting is a normal occurrence [ Thomas May 22, 2016 ]
great product I own serval Panamax products [ B May 18, 2016 ]
Bought Panamax in the past and liked the products they offer in power protection. [ JEREMY Mar 21, 2016 ]
Slim profile allows for use where space is limited. Very attractive, but simple, design blends easily with average home decor. Unit can stand alone on shelf as opposed to being required to be mounted within a rack. Front mounted receptacle a plus and increases its versatility. [ SCOTT Mar 09, 2016 ]
Hav other Panamax products [ ROBERT A. Mar 01, 2016 ]
needed to protect investment in a/v equipment [ Earl Mar 01, 2016 ]
Recommended by Buzz Buzz's Bio: http://www.crutchfield.com/Support/Bio.aspx?bio=53 [ Paul Feb 09, 2016 ]
Surge protection is very important, and so is line noise filtering. I own a Panamax power condition for another stereo system and have been very pleased with it's performance. Don't think I can go wrong with this additional Panamax purchase especially at such a great deal from Crutchfield. [ William Dec 29, 2015 ]
protection/price [ Robert Dec 17, 2015 ]
Name brand and reviews [ Matthew Dec 09, 2015 ]
In Stock
$299.99Add to Cart
total of 9 AC outlets 8 rear, 1 front
two isolated banks to reduce inter-component interference
Linear Level 3 EMI/RFI noise filtration
second set of coaxial RF connections
one set of in/out RJ-11 phone line connections
front-panel digital voltmeter
two rotatable front-panel lamps to illuminate an equipment rack


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Band on the Run
Members Scrambling to Raise Funds for Trip to NYC
Published: Friday, August 17, 2007 at 2:14 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, August 17, 2007 at 7:08 a.m.
WINTER HAVEN - Winter Haven High School Band students have learned an important lesson during the past several years: Success comes with a price.
The price this year is up to $148,000.
With seven consecutive award-winning seasons that began when Shawn Barat arrived in 2000 to become the band's director, the Red Devils have received an increasing number of invitations to statewide competitions and national performances.
This recognition not only requires additional and more intensive practice sessions, but more money, too.
It takes about $100,000 per year to run the band program when an out-of-state trip isn't on the schedule, said Band Director Sean Luce, who picked up the baton last year when Barat took over the band program at Jacksonville's Douglas Anderson School of the Arts after six award-winning years at Winter Haven High School.
Normal expenses include the purchase of new instruments and music, and the cost of providing professionals to lead seminars during summer band, as well as other expenses.
But this year's trip to New York City will require the band to raise up to an additional $48,000.
The five-day trip will include performing at Carnegie Hall on April 6 in a concert organized by Mid America Production.
The 50-member symphonic band was invited to audition last year based on a recommendation, though Luce doesn't know who made it. He sent in a taped audition in May and was notified June 1 of the band's acceptance.
The band will leave April 3 and return April 7.
Luce said the total cost of the trip will be up to $100,000, including between $1,600 and $1,800 per student, depending on what activities are chosen. Luce hopes they will be able to attend one Broadway show and a performance by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.
Each Symphonic Band member is responsible for paying $1,000 of the trip's cost individually.
The band will need to raise between $600 and $800 per student, as well as money to pay for two staff members and six chaperones. "Basically, we are trying to raise two years' worth of budgets in one year," Luce said.
first drive
The fundraising begins now.
The first of about 15 fundraisers, a rehearse-a-thon, will be held 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the high school.
Each student is collecting sponsors who will pledge specific dollar amounts per hour the band member practices.
Luce said the band raised about $10,000 during last year's rehearse-a-thon. Most of the money raised through this fundraiser will be applied to normal operating expenses, including those related to performing in local and regional contests.
By the time they board the plane for New York, Symphonic Band students will have sold everything from Krispy Kreme Donuts and Carrabba's meals to candles and photo sittings.
They will have worked the ticket booths at the Citrus Festival and concession stands at Raymond James Stadium, packed turkey dinners, wrapped Christmas packages, manned garage sales and washed cars.
But students wouldn't have it any other way. Somehow they find the time to raise money in between homework, band practice and just being a teenager.
group effort
"Sometimes (fundraising) is hard because we all go to the same people (for donations). We are such a tight-knit group," said James Hamrick, a 16-year-old junior who plays trombone.
Senior Brooke Yates said it is the collective effort of this close-knit band family that makes fundraising so successful. "It can't be just five people raising money," said the 17-year-old flute player. "It takes all of us."
But the community has shown its support of the band, Yates said.
"For the most part, people are supportive because they know what the band has done in the past," she said, alluding to the five Otto Kraushaar Awards received for achieving year-long superior ratings in marching and concert assessments sponsored by the Florida Bandmasters Association. It is the top award a band can win in Florida. The band also has won several grand championship awards at the local and regional levels.
Seniors who have attended the school since ninth grade have already taken two long trips, first to Nashville and then Indianapolis the following year, and experienced the massive fundraising associated with them.
trips good for all
Band parents such as Kim Powell, whose son, Traviss, is a senior trumpet player, say these trips are good for the band as a whole as well as each student.
"It provides the kids with the proof that all the continued hard work and determination have paid off in the biggest way," Powell said. "An opportunity such as this allows the band program the ability to represent its community on a national level."
And the trip to Carnegie Hall is particularly prestigious.
"It's such a historic place. Some of the greatest performers have performed there," Luce said. "Walking on that stage knowing that kind of greatness - now that's a life experience."
Since opening in 1891, Carnegie Hall has drawn musicians of all styles, from jazz greats Louis Armstrong and Billie Holliday to the New York Philharmonic to Tina Turner and Elton John.
It's an experience that motivates students such as Yates to spend extra hours practicing and participating in fundraisers.
"It's something we will remember for a lifetime. This is a big band family and to have this amazing experience with your band family is cool," she said with a big smile.
[ Donna Kelly can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com or 863-401-6969. ]
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Teen casually wears Gina Rodriguez' Golden Globes dress to her prom
Gina Rodriguez' closet is cooler than the mall.
Gina Rodriguez' closet is cooler than the mall.
An astronaut gets marooned on Mars after being presumed dead? Now that's classic comedy.
"Even I think they're career ending."
"Sacred cows should be milked for laughs," he wrote.
Where the show will go post-Golden Globe?
"I fucking love it when you all argue."
Thank you, Taraji's grandma.
J-Law may have finally gone too far.
The Golden Globes were kind of an actual train wreck this year, but you would never know it from these stunning black-and-white portraits.
From YouTube to the Golden Globes.
And thus a meme is born.
Ok, fiiiiine JLaw, you can crash.
Someone get Quentin Tarantino a glass of water.
Someone get him a wet-nap.
Someone got a little carried away with the bedazzler.
Don't take your teenage angst to the Golden Globes, Channing.
It's her first Golden Globe.
"I want us to be buried next to each other, I really do."
Looks like Ridley Scott is getting the last laugh.
A cookie from Cookie is better than an Oscar. Right, Leo?
Even as America Ferrera and Eva Longoria were joking onstage about casual racism, MTV Australia botched a tweet about them that was supposed to be a "joke."
Gibson's past came back to haunt him at the Golden Globes.
While presenting the Golden Globe for Best Original Score, Jamie Foxx announced an unexpected (and incorrect) winner.
Go buy a body pillow right now.
Make J-Law & A-Schu next year's Globes' hosts. Just do it.
Sometimes basic is best.


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Hungry people looking for half-priced burgers at Thirsty Bernie (2163 N. Glebe Road) Monday night were met with disappointment and turned away by a sign on the door reading "Closed on short notice. Sorry."
The sports bar and grill off of Lee Highway was only closed for the night and will be open tomorrow, said an employee. He declined to say why the restaurant was closed because the manager was not there.
There were at least five people milling about inside the restaurant last night, despite it being closed.
The closure comes amid rumors that changes are afoot at Thirsty Bernie. Two tipsers have told ARLnow.com that the neighborhood sports bar is changing management and its format.
"Thirsty Bernie… is abandoning the sports bar concept in favor of a 'lounge' theme," a tipster said. Another tipster described the new format as a "nightclub."
So far we have been unable to reach the restaurant's owner for confirmation.
The weather should be absolutely perfect and both the Capitals and Wizards are still alive in the playoffs, regardless of the status of John Wall's hand.
With our forums still dormant, we're giving you, the readers, a chance to discuss everything and anything in Arlington in the comments section of this post. Hopefully you do it in between enjoying sunshine, warmth and the great outdoors.
Flickr pool photo by John Sonderman
It's Friday evening and Arlingtonians are gearing up for what promises to be great weekend weather-wise and sports-wise.
Should you find yourself this weekend with something to say, or with some neighborhood news to report, let the comments section of this article be your replacement for our now-defunct forums.
Enjoy the weekend — and go Caps!
Video of ESPN reporter and WJLA alumna Britt McHenry's dealings with Advanced Towing after her car was towed from the Hunan One parking lot in Clarendon earlier this month has been leaked.
LiveLeak, an open-source video sharing platform, published the video today, which was promptly amplified by the sports site Deadspin. McHenry can be seen and heard berating the towing lot's employee, insulting her education, teeth and weight. During the video, the employee warns McHenry "I'll play your video, so be careful."
On April 6, McHenry tweeted that she was towed from Hunan One's parking lot. When we asked for clarification, she said she had been eating dinner at the restaurant and therefore was legally parked and, apparently, improperly towed. McHenry has since taken down her initial tweet.
With that story, we asked readers if tow companies were doing their job or preying on their customers. Of the 2,740 poll responses, 2,298 — 83.9 percent — answered "They're mostly shady predators out to make a buck."
After the video went viral on the Internet this afternoon, McHenry tweeted an apology.
"In an intense and stressful moment, I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and said some insulting and regrettable things," she said. "As frustrated as I was, I should always choose to be respectful and take the high road. I am so sorry for my actions and will learn from this mistake."
Since the video has circulated, some have called for McHenry's job. ESPN has suspended her for one week, but some who have dealt with Advanced Towing have backed the former Arlington worker.
In Britt McHenry's defense, the advanced Towing people are the most revolting company. Cash only and they don't make change.
— Tom Bridge (@tbridge) April 16, 2015
The thing is: they taunt you the whole time you're there instead of just charging your card and letting you go.
— Tom Bridge (@tbridge) April 16, 2015
Have been towed 4x by Advanced Towing, all from my home lot where I have permit. They held car hostage, had no time to argue, paid $135 4x.
— Brad Dayspring (@BDayspring) April 16, 2015
@971theticketxyt if you've ever seen Advanced Towing and the way they operate, you'd think Britt didn't go far enough.
— Kevin H. Watson (@Kevin_H_Watson) April 16, 2015
An ARLnow.com reporter went to Advanced Towing's lot in Ballston this afternoon, and was given an email address to contact the owner. The owner has not yet responded to our inquiry.
Warning: Explicit language
Starbucks may be eying its first location on Columbia Pike.
Some residents have contacted ARLnow.com, asking about a rumor that Starbucks is planning to open in the former Society Fair space in Penrose Square. Such a location would put it in direct competition with Rappahannock Coffee, the independent coffee roaster and cafe that has been open across the street since 2001.
(Development has been proposed that would force Rappahannock to close or move, although there have been few signs lately of it moving forward.)
A source with knowledge of commercial real estate discussions on the Pike confirmed that Starbucks is at least scouting for a location there.
"I know that Starbucks has been looking for a location on the Pike," the source told ARLnow.com. "Some of the region's best agents have been involved and as of last week, some are saying that Starbucks is considering a deal."
"Penrose is looking for a national brand tenant for the [Society Fair] space but so are others too," like 3400 Pike and the Halstead," the source continued. "We have been hearing about imminent deals since November but… nothing materialized."
La Tagliatella, the Italian restaurant in Clarendon perhaps best known for a scathing Washington Post review, could close at the end of the month.
We're told by one restaurant employee that Jan. 31 will be its last day. A manager, when contacted by ARLnow.com, said "there's been talk of it" but "we haven't gotten any official word yet."
The restaurant, owned by Polish company AmRest, was the third American location of a franchise that was popular in Europe, and was viewed as a harbinger for potentially hundreds of additional U.S. locations. In May, the Washington Business Journal reported those expansion plans were on hold, and theorized the Post's review — which called La Tagliatella "a threat to our nation" and compared it unfavorably to Olive Garden — might have had something to do with it.
La Tagliatella had a planned location in the Village at Shirlington at the former Extra Virgin space, and still has signs up that say "coming soon," but the manager we spoke to said those plans have since been scuttled.
The restaurant opened in Clarendon in the prime spot at the corner of Clarendon Blvd and N. Garfield Street, formerly home to Restaurant 3, in 2013.
(Updated at 5:20 p.m.) The Mothers of North Arlington — a support and social group for mothers in six Arlington ZIP codes with more than 2,000 members — is now facing competition from a group of former members.
MONA's members have congregated since 2009 on a Yahoo! Group that today has 2,353 members. According to a tipster, MONA is switching over to a new web platform tomorrow, and the switch has already prompted enough opposition that the former MONA president resigned in May, claiming some members were using "hate speech" and "cyber-bullying" over the impending change.
Yesterday, some of MONA's members decided that, instead of asking MONA to keep its Yahoo! Group alive, they would start their own. NAPping — short for North Arlington Parents — launched on Monday as a free group for North Arlington parents. So far, Yahoo! reports it has just shy of 150 members. In May, MONA had 2,615 members.
While MONA charges $40 in annual membership dues and restricts membership to residents of the 22201, 22203, 22205, 22207, 22209 and 22213 ZIP codes, NAPping is a free group. It was started after parents who didn't want MONA to shift away from the Yahoo! Group all put their names into a Google Doc to split off.
Asked about NAP's formation, MONA leaders took the high road, saying they welcomed the competing group.
"One thing this transition has shown us is the wide variety of needs, interests and priorities in the community as people seek parenting support," MONA co-presidents Morgan Chinoy and M.K. Yeargin said in a statement to ARLnow.com. "We think it is a positive thing for the North Arlington community to have more than one parenting support organization to allow people to find what best suits their needs, whether it's some, all or none of them. We look forward to a positive relationship with North Arlington Parents as we all work toward our common goal of supporting parents in our community."
Photo via MONA
(Updated at 1:45 p.m.) Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) says he "had to stand up for Arlington" this morning in his office with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) who rankled folks in Arlington over the line in her book calling the county a "soulless suburb."
Warner wrote in a tweet "All is forgiven" and thanked Gillibrand for "being a class act." He posted three photos, including one of him and Gillibrand holding an "Arlington, We Got Soul" T-shirt.
"Senator Gillibrand says she meant no offense," Warner told ARLnow.com in an email, "and she certainly was a good sport about the whole thing."
Warner Press Secretary Beth Wanamaker said Gillibrand came into their office "and was immediately apologetic to all of us. She said she had no idea that she would cause such a kerfuffle."
The shirt is produced by Fairfax-based CustomInk, and it can be bought online here for $20 each. All of the funds from T-shirt purchases will go directly to the Arlington Food Assistance Center, per the T-shirt seller's website.
Photos courtesy Sen. Mark Warner's office
(Updated at 2:05 p.m.) A Ballston hot yoga studio sparked outrage Thursday by promoting a Sept. 11-themed sale and referencing conspiracy theories.
"9+11 = 20% OFF! PATRIOT DAY SALE on Bikram Yoga," Bikram Arlington, located four miles from the Pentagon at 4509 5th Road N., tweeted Thursday morning.
Twitter users told the company they were appalled by the reference to the tragedy.
"Kind of disgusting to promote shop sales with a Sept. 11 discount. Shame on you, @bikramarlington," user @Melissaeweiss wrote.
Courthouse resident Angela Herrick, 32, said a Facebook post from the yoga studio about the sale appeared alongside a post remembering her friend's father, who was killed in the Pentagon.
"A tragedy like this should never be used to promote a business, period," Herrick told ARLnow.com, noting she had frequented the studio since 2011. "I will not be returning, ever."
Bikram Arlington then tweeted, "The goal was to point out what date it was and associate to patriotism and to remember it. Its [sic] a shame some of you go to the negative."
"Apologies to anyone who is upset by it!" another tweet from the company said.
That tweet was was quickly followed by a suggestion to search 9/11 "truther" conspiracy theories.
"If you want to be upset, research the term '911 building 7' and check the news because they are hearing 'chatter' about us getting hit again."
The studio's promotion page added more color on the deal: "Freedom Isn't Free — And we intend to honor those patriots who have died for our country and morn [sic] the loss of freedom of speech and other rights that died day."
Studio owner Zahra Vaezi, whose husband, Frank, wrote the tweet, told The Washington Post that she "didn't realize people would be so 'roar,' you know?" over the promotion.
"It's like that man who punched his wife," she told the Post, referring to ex-Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice. "I mean, that's upsetting. But I think it kind of gets blown out of proportion."
Multiple calls to the studio went unreturned.
@bikramarlington You demonstrate an incomprehensible lack of compassion—in the town of the Pentagon, no less. Hoping you learn & improve.
— David Panarelli (@dpan) September 11, 2014
@bikramarlington @stcolumbia Holy jeeze, when you're in a hole, quit digging
— Ken Nisbet (@KenNisbet) September 11, 2014
Never forget! Or pay retail! Like Al Qaeda, our prices are insane!! MT @bikramarlington: 9+11 = 20% OFF! PATRIOT DAY SALE on Bikram Yoga
— Jason Stanford (@JasStanford) September 11, 2014
Maybe they are right. Maybe Arlington actually has no soul. pic.twitter.com/6kUrbhLfBs
— ᴩᴀɢᴇ (@DannyPage) September 11, 2014
(Updated at 9:50 a.m.) New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D) is no fan of living in Arlington, apparently.
In her new book, "Off The Sidelines," which is due out today, Gillibrand recounts her move from New York to the D.C. area — to Arlington, specifically — when she was first elected to the House of Representatives. It was a move Gillibrand would come to regret.
From the book:
Our move to Washington was hard — on me and my marriage. I had a new job; [my husband] Jonathan didn't; and we were trying to find our legs with a toddler in a new city. We started having the same argument over and over. I'd say, "What's wrong?"
Jonathan would say, "I have no job and I hate D.C."
I appreciated Jonathan's viewpoint. We lived in a soulless suburb. It wasn't the right place for us, and we needed a change. I could see that, but it took me at least a year to figure out that racing 100 miles an hour to do my job well was leaving no time for us… Eventually we moved from Arlington, Virginia, to Capitol Hill, and Jonathan found a job he liked.
Gillibrand's book also discusses sexism on Capitol Hill and inappropriate comments congressmen made about Gillibrand's weight.
Update at 6:00 p.m. — In a tweet, Gillibrand says she's sorry.
Sorry, Arlington, didn't mean to hurt your feelings. #OffTheSidelines
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) September 9, 2014
Adams Morgan watering hole Black Squirrel may be coming to Rosslyn.
Leasing agents at the Sedona Slate apartment complex, on the 1500 block of Clarendon Blvd, have been telling prospective residents that Black Squirrel will be opening in a ground floor space at the building.
Black Squirrel bills itself as an "old-school neighborhood gastropub." It boasts an extensive draft beer selection and a food menu that includes spruced-up versions of standard pub fare.
So far, no building permits can be seen on the windows of the would-be bar space. Reached by phone, Black Squirrel co-owner Tom Knott declined comment.
One business that's confirmed to be coming soon to the Sedona Slate ground floor is Lava Barre, which was formerly located near Clarendon. Interior construction is underway on the future Lava Barre space and "coming soon" signs are posted on the windows. No word yet on an opening date.
The mysterious Sam's Corner deli at 3201 Wilson Boulevard in Clarendon may be getting ready to close, according to a tipster.
The no-nonsense, cash-only deli has fascinated some locals with its irregular hours, its general lack of customers, and its ability to remain in business in a high-rent area. But the business may be closing soon after all.
The daughter of the older couple who own the deli has told friends that her parents will be shutting down the restaurant, perhaps by the end of the month, according to our tipster. The owners have simply decided to retire, we're told.
An emailed request for comment was not returned.
Is the Arlington County Board trying to give itself the power to remove inflammatory political ads from Metro stations? It sure sounds like that may be the case.
Two weeks after the brouhaha over an ad in the Clarendon Metro station that told President Obama to "go to hell," the County Board went into its closed executive session with a curious objective: to discuss "the county's authority to regulate the content of advertising on Metro property."
All we know about the discussion is that quote, read by County Board Chair Mary Hynes before adjourning the Board's Tuesday afternoon meeting. The executive session is legally considered private and, reached for comment, a county spokesperson said they've been advised by the County Attorney to not discuss any details.
Even if the county can find the authority to regulate ads in Arlington Metro stations, though, there remains the question of whether removing political ads would be Constitutional. In explaining why it allowed the inflammatory "go to hell" ad, Metro issued the following statement: "WMATA advertising has been ruled by the courts as a public forum protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution, and we may not decline ads based on their political content."
With the Chevys Fresh Mex restaurant in Ballston Common Mall (pictured) now permanently closed, is the Chevys location in Pentagon City (1201 S Hayes Street) far behind?
A source who had advance knowledge of the closing of the Ballston Chevys tells ARLnow.com that the financially-troubled restaurant chain is indeed planning on closing the Pentagon City location, perhaps as soon as this weekend or next week.
That's contrary to what employees at the restaurant told us. A Chevys Pentagon City employee said earlier this week that the eatery was "going strong" and would remain open.
Chevys Pentagon City is one of the county's larger restaurants, with a seating capacity of over 150.
Via the Montreal Gazette, of all places, comes word that Capitals star Alex Ovechkin's new girlfriend has been hanging around Arlington as of late.
Russian tennis star Maria Kirilenko has been photographed working out with the George Washington University tennis team, presumably at the indoor Sport & Health Club courts in Crystal City. She has also been spotted at Capitals practices, presumably at the Kettler Capitals Iceplex in Ballston, according to the Gazette.
Ovechkin, who lives in a $1.6 million home in Arlington's Waycroft-Woodlawn neighborhood, recently confirmed the relationship by Tweeting out a photo of the happy couple (left). Before that Tweet, however, the Gazette could only speculate as to why Kirilenko seemed to be spending so much time in our fair county.
"In all seriousness, putting aside the fact that this is pretty good gossip, if you're a Russian tennis player and you choose … Arlington, Va. for some indoor practice, it's probably not because you're an American history buff," the paper said.
Let us know via email or the comments if you spot Ovie and his new GF out on the town.


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Cucumber Mustard and Dill Salad
Total Time
Prep 10 mins
Cook 0 mins
Gourmet. Oct 04
Ingredients Nutrition
- 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 1⁄2 teaspoon salt (to taste)
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 tablespoon mild olive oil
- 1 large seedless cucumber, peeled (usually plastic-wrapped, 1 lb)
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
- Whisk together vinegar, mustard, salt, and sugar in a bowl, then add oil in a slow stream, whisking.
- Halve cucumber lengthwise and remove seeds with a small spoon, then cut halves crosswise into 1/8-inch-thick slices.
- Add cucumber and dill to vinaigrette, tossing to coat.
Most Helpful
This recipe was wonderful! It was easy, refreshing, tasty, and the directions were clear. I didn't have any fresh dill so I had to substiture dried dill, but it worked out fine. I was afraid it would be too tart tasting, but it was just perfect! Thanks so much for posting!


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Anderson Silva shows us how to use a Raspberry Pi and LightshowPi to create a musical light show.
Today pianist Kimiko Ishizaka and MuseScore.com made their recording and score of Johann Sebastian Bach's collection of solo keyboard music, called the Well-Tempered Clavier, available to the public domain so anyone can download and fork it. The project is called the Open Well-Tempered Clavier. And... Read more
Frontline is building open, configurable tools that make it easier to connect and translate systems using the world's most distributed technologies.
The Republic of Ireland celebrates its national holiday St. Patrick's Day this week, when the rivers flow green and the Guinness flows too. This small country has produced some world-reknowned open source and free software developers, and we've rounded up a few in honor of St. Paddy's Day.
Hello, open gaming fans! This week brings you a special edition as we look at some of the highlights from the Game Developers Conference (GDC) that took place a little over a week ago. Open gaming roundup: March 7 - 14, 2015
Once a year, like clockwork, March 14 rolls around and people around the globe celebrate Pi Day. Unlike many other holidays, Pi Day doesn't have specific rules for how to celebrate. In the past, I've joined friends for a 3.14(ish) mile Pi Day run, visited a science museum (which included a pi... Read more
Welcome to the Opensource.com Weekly Top 5! We cover GitLab, Docker, Symphony... Firing community members and which is the best programming language... and more!
In this week's edition of our open source news roundup, we take a look Apple's open source ResearchKit, the Linux kernel community adopts a code of conflict, and more! Open source news for your reading pleasure: March 7 - 13, 2015.
The end result of your efforts will be a gradual increase in the number of like-minded people willing and able to help share the burden of providing help to those who need it. And isn't that community empowerment one of the reasons we all like open source to begin with?
Low-quality contributors don't bring much other than noise: they are a net drain on resources because other good contributors have to take time away to support them. Everyone should come to the open source community with a desire to find solutions, and then we can work together. If some need... Read more


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New Kids on the Block Ticket Information
Boston boy band New Kids on the Block formed in 1984, and in the decades since, the group has cemented itself as a veritable icon of pop music. After the band's self-titled debut came out in 1986, New Kids on the Block quickly went on to earn numerous hit singles, among them longstanding favorites like "You Got It (The Right Stuff)," "Step by Step," and "Hangin' Tough." When you secure New Kids on the Block tickets, you can join the crowd for an upcoming show from this powerful quintet and hear your favorite tunes performed live. For help selecting New Kids on the Block tour dates or completing any of the transaction, reach out to one of our agents online through Live Chat or by phone at 866.848.8499.
- Scan the list of New Kids on the Block upcoming events showcased on this page. Tap the "Tickets" link next to the concert you want to attend to advance to the next step.
- Choose New Kids on the Block concert tickets on the following page by inputting your preferred quantity and price at the top of the screen. When you find a set you would like to purchase, click "Buy," access or log in to a new account, and tap "Secure Sign In."
- Complete the checkout form with your payment information (credit card or PayPal) and shipping address, if required. Once the seller confirms your request, the New Kids on the Block tickets you chose are guaranteed to arrive in time for the show.
Related Concerts
- 5 Seconds of Summer Tickets
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- Demi Lovato Tickets
- Duran Duran Tickets
- Fifth Harmony Tickets
- Gwen Stefani Tickets
- Hall and Oates Tickets
- Halsey Tickets


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AmazonFeed is all the same features, no restrictions and no annoying options page garbage. Still works with WP 3.5 and Multipress.
There use to be a "Better" version of this too. But, I can't find it anymore. It had even more options for the layout.
If anyone knows where to find it please let me know here.
You can see this plugin at work here: http://adshopez.com/1/hello-world/