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Free Gigya Socialize for Drupal webinar on 8/4/09 – Sign up today to learn about product features, implementation, and best practices
Gigya & Acquia recently released the Drupal module for Socialize, enabling sites built on Drupal to social login services including Facebook Connect, MySpaceID, Sign in with Twitter as well as OpenID providers like Gmail, Yahoo! Mail and AOL Mail. Publishers using Socail Login have increased site registrations by more than 30%.
The new module makes it easy for Drupal site owners to:
- Enable users to link existing accounts with social network and OpenID identities, and personalize the user experience by making it easy for sites to integrate user profile and social graph data.
- Increase user acquisition by enabling users to invite friends to the site, or to share site content or a specific event. For example, using the Socialize module users can choose to invite their Facebook friends to comment on a new post they created.
- Increase site traffic through viral promotion, enabling users to send status updates, tweets and newsfeed events to their social networks. The Gigya Social Login module has been fully integrated with Drupal's user action and trigger core modules so Drupal site owners can configure the viral promotion channels to work dynamically.
- Easily configure the user experience, design, and module functionality using the Drupal administration panel.
To learn more about how to use Social Login on your Drupal website, Acquia and Gigya are jointly hosting a webinar on August 4th, 2009 which will cover product features, implementation, and best practices.
Click here to register.
To download the module directly, visit http://drupal.org/project/gigya
By g-gigya


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Teddy Geiger sang "Life is a marathon…"
(This is a featured post. If you want an entry of yours to be posted here at Planet Slate, please send them to email@example.com!)
by Ailee Canlas
For me, to run is always a challenge. It's so easy to say and believe "I'm tired today, I'll just run tomorrow." And the challenge doesn't end there. The harder ones, you encounter while you run.
While running, you can feel your calves get heavier and heavier, your breathing getting quicker, and something at the side of your tummy starting to hurt. (Or maybe that's just meeee). Tonight I learned again that there's a better solution than stopping… or quitting. Or panicking. When things get tough and then tougher, you've got to learn how to breathe. If you have to slow down just to breathe right again, slow down.
Slow it down just to continue running. And from here, I realized that when you need to "go the distance", you need endurance. More than speed. Speed will only take you so far. When the road is long and you intend to finish strong, train to endure.
For me, races are tough. That's why on top of all the pep talk on repeat in my kokote, I run with a friend. Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow. When you cross the finish line, victory's always sweeter when you finish together. When you're part of a team, isn't it supposed to be that way? Sometimes you lead. Sometimes you follow. Win together.
The realizations are simple but they cost you too much when you forget.
-When things get tough, maybe you're forgetting how to breathe. So breathe.
-If you want to last, endure.
-And it's better to run, it's better to laugh, it's better to travel, it's better to love, it's better to live… when you're not alone.
There's a song that goes "Life is a marathon…" Now I understand.
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subset: commoncrawl


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A bankruptcy attorney can help you manage personal or business debts you are unable to pay. Bankruptcy laws allow people and businesses to (1) get a "fresh start" by relieving most debts; and (2) repay the money owed to all creditors as fairly as possible. When you file for bankruptcy protection, all other legal actions against you are put on hold. Creditors cannot sue you, garnish your wages, repossess your car or home entertainment system, or start or continue with a foreclosure action against your home. There are different types of bankruptcy filings and each has its own advantages. Since bankruptcy can significantly impact your future purchasing power and credit rating, you should see a bankruptcy attorney to make sure the benefits of filling bankruptcy outweigh the consequences.


text: The introduction of a camera stabilizer system has revolutionized the world of film and movie production. Thanks to technological developments, new generations of camera stabilizers have been comprehensively redesigned to unleash creative possibilities in this industry. These systems come with the latest state-of-the-art technology to meet even the most demanding video and film production needs. But what makes a dslr camera stabilizer system stand out? This camera stabilizer has an in-built image stabilization system that plays an integral role in enabling you take crystal clear pictures even in lightning speeds. This is because it has a shutter speed that cancels any accidental camera shaking, enabling you to take quality videos and pictures. In sharp contrast to other camera stabilization systems, dslr requires limited vests and weights. Besides that, using camera stabilizers also gives you the ability to switch between different shooting modes with ease while on the go. This can be done remotely via a joystick. The result is a mobile fluid shooting experience for a smoother and more professional footage. In addition to that, camera stabilizers are also effective in decreasing telephoto blurring, resulting in high quality footage. A professional camera stabilizer has longer telephoto lenses that can see further, magnifying every little shaking motion. With image stabilization, you are able to minimize such effects. Alongside the aforementioned, camera stabilizers also use a higher aperture to get more depth of the field. This is because using a higher aperture tends to increase sharpness in your photos and videos. Every time you increase the aperture of a camera stabilizer system, the camera's sensors get smaller, resulting in a decrease in the shutter speed to allow more light in. Image stabilization is crucial when it comes to taking quality videos and photographs. However, there is no better way of putting at bay those shakes than arming yourself with a quality dslr camera stabilizer.


text: The Binghamton man who was shot in the leg earlier this month has died. Police say 37-year old Daniel Miley died of complications from the gunshot Thursday. Miley was shot in the area on Chapin Street early in the morning on December 9th. He was found nearby on Gerard Avenue and taken to Wilson Regional Medical Center. Police are still looking for whoever is responsible for the shooting. If you have any information, you can reach Binghamton Police at (607) 772-7080.


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So it was the first "cold" (sub 40) start of the year thus far. I started my car and it reved up as usual (not touching gas peddle) then when it dropped back to idle it died. I repeated this 3 times. When it died it sounded like a car does when the fuel is running out. Hitting on the cylinders very slowly and not all of them. As i was on campus and had to get home i started the car again and reved the engine slightly as it started. By doing this i was able to get the car to start and begin driving. While driving i could feel the car hesitating. The one time i put any amount of stress on the motor it hit a wall and seemed like it wasnt getting any fuel. After that i just limped the car home staying out of boost and keeping my rpm as low as i could. The car did manage to go a steady 65 on the highway and when i finally got home i turned it off then restarted it with no problems.
My initial thought is the fuel pump is going or basically gone and the cold just perpetuated the problem. Any argument to this or more likely cases? I plan on getting a fuel pump tomorow and driving the other car for a few days to be safe but want to make sure my thinking is correct/
Thanks for the help


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Portugal Bids Farewell to Legend Eusebio
Tens of thousands gathered in Potugal's capital Lisbon on Monday to pay their last respects to the footballing legend Eusebio.
Eusebio passed away on Sunday at the age of 71, following a cardiac arrest.
Thousands lined in the streets of Lisbon as the funeral cortege made its way to the Luz stadium, where many more awaited to see the legend for one last time, reported the BBC.
The car carrying the coffin circled the inside of the stadium, as fans of his former team Benfica sang songs and placed flowers.
One banner read "I haven't come to say goodbye, but to say thank you".
Tributes were also paid at a Mass held in the city's Seminary Church and attended by dignitaries including Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho.
Eusebio da Silva Ferreira was born in the former Portuguese colony of Mozambique. He went on to play 64 games for the Portuguese national team, scoring 41 goals, and becoming the 1966 World Cup top scorer.
He won the European Cup with Benfica in 1962 and was named European Footballer of the Year in 1965.
Nicknamed the Black Panther, the Black Pearl, or O Rei (The King) he was known for his speed, technique, athleticism and his ferocious, accurate right-footed shot.
- » Hard win for Bulgarian volleyball team after five-set battle
- » Expected loss for Bulgaria from Brazil
- » World Famous Footballers Arrive in Sofia for All Stars 2017 Charity Match
- » Bulgaria Scores Prestigious Victory Against Olympix Champion Brazil in World Volleyball League
- » Bulgarian Children Who Overcame Cancer Won 17 Medals at Athletic Event in Moscow
- » Ivet Lalova-Collio Places 4th in Marseilles


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First time post here. I have a 97 Rodeo V6 3.2L with 189k miles and an automatic transmission. I just got the car with the tranny problem so I don't know much about the history of it.
The tranny is slipping out of gear when shifting to 3rd gear at around 25-30 mph. It will feel like it should shift from 2nd to 3rd but it doesn't and then it will just completely slip out of gear as if it were in neutral. Driving in 1st and 2nd gear seems fine, it doesn't slip from 1st to 2nd. Just from 2nd to 3rd.
I have not checked the tranny fluid level under the car yet.
I am wondering if this sounds like the tranny has a mechanical problem and will definitely need an overhaul/rebuild or if there is a chance that putting in new tranny fluid and even some anti-slip additive could fix the problem. Thanks


text: About Threshold PharmaceuticalsThreshold is a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of drugs targeting Tumor Hypoxia, the low oxygen condition found in microenvironments of most solid tumors as well as the bone marrows of some hematologic malignancies. This approach offers broad potential to treat a variety of cancers. By selectively targeting tumor cells, we are building a pipeline of drugs that hold promise to be more effective and less toxic to healthy tissues than conventional anticancer drugs. For additional information, please visit our website ( www.thresholdpharm.com). Forward-Looking Statements Except for statements of historical fact, the statements in this press release are forward-looking statements, including statements regarding TH-302 and its potential therapeutic uses and benefits. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that can cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the ability of Threshold or clinical investigators to enroll patients in clinical trials of TH-302, whether this trial or any others of TH-302 will confirm the results of earlier trials or animal experiments, the time and expense required to conduct such clinical trials and analyze data, whether TH-302 combined with bevacizumab provides anticipated benefits, Threshold's ability to develop a clinical formulation of TH-302 and secure and adequate supply, issues arising in the regulatory process and any unanticipated or increased side-effects observed in patients receiving TH-302. Further information regarding these and other risks is included under the heading "Risk Factors" in Threshold's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, which was filed with the Securities Exchange Commission on May 12, 2011 and is available from the SEC's website ( www.sec.gov) and on our website ( www.thresholdpharm.com) under the heading "Investors." We do not intend to update any forward-looking statement made in this news release.


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One year after the G20 summit paralyzed Toronto, sparking a weekend of protests and the largest mass arrest in the country's history, demonstrators plan to gather at Queen's Park Saturday afternoon for the "G20 Redux," billed as a festival to celebrate Canadians' fundamental freedoms. The
's Megan O'Toole takes a look at what has transpired in the wake of the G20, and what is still to come.
After a small group of "Black Bloc" rioters wreaked havoc on the city for hours last June, police cracked down, sweeping up 1,118 citizens, according to the latest figures from Toronto police. Police held most for breach of the peace and later released them, but charged 330 with various offences, from vandalism and arson to resisting arrest and obstructing justice. Numbers released by the Ministry of the Attorney-General this week revealed prosecutors stayed, withdrew or dismissed charges in 187 cases, while others concluded with measures such as peace bonds. A total of 24 people have been convicted, with 47 others scheduled to appear in court on or before Oct. 5. Meanwhile, the high-profile trial of computer expert Byron Sonne -police say he planned to attack the summit, but supporters say the charges are baseless -begins this fall.
Facing a barrage of criticism for enacting a regulation that police relied on for warrantless searches and arrests around the G20 security perimeter, the Ontario government in April announced plans to scrap the related law. The regulation under the obsolete Public Works Protection Act gave police enhanced powers around the security fence, improperly interpreted to mean they could arrest anyone within five metres who refused to identify themselves. A report by former chief justice Roy McMurtry denounced the Act as overreaching, noting it had been used "for purposes beyond its original intent." In response, the province began consultations on replacement legislation to deal with security issues at courts and power generation stations, expected to come forward in the fall.
Though numerous reviews are examining G20 fallout, residents continue to call for a full public inquiry, and will do so again during Saturday's demonstration. Two investigations focused on the "secret law"; ombudsman André Marin's review was particularly scathing, citing "the most massive compromise of civil liberties in Canadian history." Two other investigations with wider mandates are ongoing, including the Toronto Police Services Board's independent civilian review, which is examining the board's role in setting policy around major events. Having recently wrapped up a set of three public hearings, the review is moving into its next stage, including a review of internal police documents. A separate probe by the Office of the Independent Police Review Director, examining nearly 400 complaints about specific police actions, is expected to conclude within the next few months.
Despite countless allegations of police brutality and violations of civil liberties, just two police officers face charges related to the G20. In both cases, the charges stemmed from protracted probes by the Special Investigations Unit, the provincial watchdog that investigates potentially criminal incidents involving police. In numerous other cases, witness officers could not identify suspect colleagues, sparking criticisms of failed account-ability -a phenomenon lawyer Clayton Ruby termed "thin blue line disease." Those charged include Constable Babak Andalib-Goortani, accused of assaulting G20 protestor Adam Nobody and another woman; and Constable Glenn Weddell, accused of injuring Dorian Barton at Queen's Park. Const. Andalib-Goortani is back in court June 27, while Const. Weddell makes his first appearance in July.
A judge will decide next month which of two overlapping G20 class-action lawsuits can proceed, with both pertaining to hundreds of residents detained during the summit. One, launched by representative plaintiffs Miranda McQuade and Mike Barber, alleges police conduct at the G20 "effectively eroded the fundamental freedoms and civil liberties enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms." They seek $115-million in damages. Plaintiff Sherry Good, caught in a controversial "kettling" incident during a G20 demonstration at Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue, launched a separate but similar lawsuit. Once the court determines which should proceed, courts will likely hear a motion for class-action certification in the summer of 2012, lawyer Charles Wagman said.
Ottawa has so far agreed to pay $1.9-million in compensation to businesses affected by the G20 summit, a fraction of what was requested. Besides smashed windows and fire damage, business owners complained of significant lost revenue resulting from the locked-down city. The federal government received a total of 367 G20 claims totalling $11million; about half were rejected, while 37 are still being processed. Trinity-Spadina MP Olivia Chow has called on the government to put an appeal process in place for those who are dissatisfied with their compensation. The government has not yet revealed details of which businesses received cheques, noting that information will likely be released in the fall.


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Wednesday here at Mirror.co.uk's Showbiz Towers and there's been yet more twists in the Peter Andre/Katie 'Jordan' Price saga.
Despite reports that Pete was now loved-up with reality TV queen Chantelle Houghton, the Mysterious Girl singer says they're simply good friends as they share the same management company.
St Peter has also poured cold water on claims that he's set to pen a poison-filled tell-all book about his time with glamour girl Jordan and was hankering to move back to his homeland Australia.
Posting on his Twitter, Pete said: "Just to let you know that there is nothing going on with me and Chantelle 1000 million percent. She is becoming a good FRIEND. Same management.
"My head hasn't even been able to think of anyone else. kids and work, that's it for now. Thought I'd set the record straight."
And just hours ago this morning, he posted: "Not moving to Oz, not spilling the beans on This Morning as reported and no, no plans to do a kiss and tell book. That's not what I'm about. Not interested in anyone once again, kids and work is all I care about now."
He added: "I tell you all these things because I want you all to know. You guys follow me and I love your support so i want you to be part of my life too."
However, it seems that his estranged wife - who's already been caught on camera bumping and grinding with a whole host of willing male escorts - appears to have been left stung by the claims that her hubby has moved on too.
She was pictured looked tired and emotional last night, and for a change, it wasn't because she'd been raving it up again at one London's glittering fleshpot nitespots.
The horse-loving model had actually been at ultra-exclusive members club Annabel's for a friend's wedding reception.
Being at something like that is REALLY going to bring a marriage break-up into sharp relief. We've been to a wedding shortly after a relationship break-up and we almost DIED with the pain of it all.
Whatever your opinions about Katie, she and Pete have two kids together so they really must have loved each other once. And being at a wedding reception is only going to magnify what it feels to have lost that. Katie, we feel for you, sister.
Kate is trying to be magnanimous about her former partner Pete however, whatever the truth of the rumours about him and Preston's ex Chantelle.
Writing in her weekly column for OK! magazine which hit the shopw yesterday, she said: "'It seems like her and Peter could be in a relationship and if they are, I'm really pleased for them - I think she's a good-looking girl, she seems nice and I hope they're happy, just as long as he's with someone who is nice to our kids."
She added: "I've had a cross tattooed over the tattoo I got of his name. I won't get his name removed because he was part of my life but I just want to get on with the divorce now."
We have a feeling Katie will be wearing lots of big bangles on her wrists to cover her inky faux-pas from now on, however.
Here's the other twists and turns from the land of celebrity in today's gossip round-up...
Today's top showbiz stories
Michael Jackson memorial: Jacko's children say goodbye to their dad
Davina McCall: My alcoholic mum should not have had any children
Mystery over Michael Jackson's grave
Madonna dines with McCartneys after day with children Mercy and David
Michael Jackson memorial: P Diddy, Alexandra Burke, Kelly Osbourne and other stars on Twitter as they watch his tribute show
Today's top 3am stories
Harry Potter premiere hit by thunderstorms - see pics of soaked stars including Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe
Michael Gambon dozed off while shooting Professor Dumbledore's death scene
Stars at Harry Potter premiere honour Robert Knox
Leggy Eurovision star Jade Ewen provided Harry Potter boys with distraction
Harry Potter author JK Rowling wears towering Christian Louboutin heels to premiere
That's the round-up for now, but don't forget to keep coming back here and here for all your very latest showbiz gossip and exclusive news updated all through the day on Mirror.co.uk.
Why not wade in with your opinion and get all the goss on Big Brother at our blog?
And finally, why not follow us on Twitter? You can follow all the online celebs and showbiz goings and shenanigans here


text:
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and talk to one of our expert computer repair technicians about our free in-shop computer diagnostics.
Doing computer repair for a living, I get allot of questions. One my favorites has to be "Should I repair or upgrade my computer or just get a new one". So, let's take a look at whether to repair or upgrade an existing computer or just buy a new one.
First off, let's start with the three (3) theories I follow when it comes to computers and their components.
With that said, let's start with the repair or replace scenario. Most of the time, if the computer (desktop or laptop) is within the expected lifetime, repairing is the best the way to go. Now the exception is with the price and availability of replacement parts.
Now with computers over three (3) years old, you have to take a look at the cost of replacement parts and labor versus the cost of a new system. If the parts and labor total more than $200, I will usually ask a client at least twice if they are sure they want to replace the part(s).
You also have to look at whether the replacement parts are new or refurbished (fancy way of saying used). For laptop bases, lids and bezels, refurbished will work quite well. For motherboards and IO / daughter boards, a refurbished unit may or may not work out.
Keep in mind that if a particular component has a flaw that caused it to fail, a refurbished (used) part may also have the same flaw and could fail just like the component you are replacing. I've had about 50 / 50 success rate with refurbished parts, with some parts lasting only months and some lasting years.
Hard drives, memory modules, desktop DVD drives, power supplies, laptop displays, laptop keyboards and laptop fans are some of the more common parts that usually need to be replaced. These parts are normally easy to find and purchase. Laptop parts like hinges, display bezels, display lids (tops) and bases can be tricky to find. A quick Google search for computer model + part name should yield some results.
In my experience finding replacement parts, I have found that the age of the computer has allot to do with being able to find parts.
Now when it comes to upgrading a computer, there are quite few things that can be done to desktop and laptop computers. The one thing with the most bang-for-the-buck is memory. Allot of systems come with a nominal amount of memory and can easily be upgraded.
The problem with upgrading memory is that many manufacturers will purchase smaller memory modules and then fill up all of the memory slots with them. For example, let's say you bought a computer with eight (8) gigabytes of memory installed. The motherboard has four (4) memory slots and each one can handle a 4 gigabyte memory module (max.), for a total of sixteen (16) gigabytes (max.).
But when you open up the computer, you find that instead of using two (2) 4 gigabytes memory modules, the manufacturer used four (4) 2 gigabyte modules. So, to upgrade the memory to sixteen (16) gigabytes, you have to replace all of the 2 gigabyte memory modules with 4 gigabytes modules. Why do they do it? They can get the smaller memory modules cheaper.
How to upgrade or add more memory to your computer
Another way to breathe new life into a computer is to upgrade the hard drive. You can go with a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) that spins faster or a Solid State Drive (SSD) that has a faster transfer rate. Either of these should give you better performance. Combine it with a clean installation of Windows and you will feel like you got a brand new computer.
How to upgrade the hard drive in your computer
How to upgrade your computers hard disk drive to a solid state drive
Now if you have a desktop computer and like playing games, upgrading the graphics card may be an option. Just make sure you know what the motherboard specification is for the PCIe slot(s) (version 1, version 2, etc.) and use a graphics card that is compatible. Also, make sure you have enough power connector(s) (6-pin or 8-pin PCIe).
You are the only one who has to decide whether to repair or upgrade an existing computer or replace with a new one. If it has sentimental value or runs a program you cannot reinstall, then maybe you should repair or upgrade it. But if the cost of fixing it is more than the total value of your existing computer, then maybe you consider just replacing it with a new computer.
Upgrading your computer to Windows 10 can be pretty simple task. But there are occasions when upgrading can be a really big headache. And then there is my Windows 10 upgrade. Here's my personal experience upgrading to Windows 10.
Let me first start out by saying that I knew right from the start that upgrading my personal computer to Windows 10 would be allot of work. But it was something that needed to happen. When I built this system in January of 2013 it was because the original motherboard failed. So I picked up a new motherboard, processor and memory and reloaded all of the software.
Little did I know that my biggest problem for my Windows 10 upgrade started when I installed all of the software in 2013. I installed Windows 8 (Windows 8.1 hadn't been released) instead of Windows 7 that I had previously. All worked well until Windows 8.1 was released. It turned out that one of my major programs, QuickBooks Pro 2010, didn't support Windows 8.1. If I upgraded to Windows 8.1 I would have to upgrade to QuickBooks Pro 2013. It seemed like a waste of time and money, so I decided to wait.
Now let's fast forward three years or so to February of 2016 when Microsoft ends support for Windows 8 (not Windows 8.1). I decided it was time to move to Windows 10. I picked up a new 1TB hard drive and installed it alongside my 1TB Windows 8 drive. I was going to just switch boot drive in the motherboard Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) temporarly until I got the Windows 10 drive all set up. That's when I remembered that my version of QuickBooks Pro 2010 wasn't going to install on Windows 10.
So just for the fun of it, I tried to install QuickBooks Pro 2010 inside a Windows 10 Virtual Machine (VM) running on the Windows 8 drive. The installer just wouldn't run. I tried everything including compatibility mode, nothing worked. So I decided that I could run QuickBooks Pro 2010 inside of a Windows 7 VM. I got the Windows 7 VM all set up and running. Then things got really busy at work and my upgrade to Windows 10 had to be put on the back burner. So I disconnected the drive with Windows 10 and keep using Windows 8.
My Windows 10 upgrade got back on track last month when Intuit made me an offer to upgrade my version of QuickBooks. Seems there is a security issue with older QuickBook versions and Intuit offered me the latest version for 70% off. That was just the thing to get my Windows 10 upgrade gong again. To be honest, I would have lost the integration with Microsoft Word (printing envelops) and Outlook (contacts, e-mail) running QuickBooks inside of a VM. That was something I really didn't want to loose.
My original plan was back on. I had already performed a clean installation of Windows 10 and just need to install all of the rest of the software. Yes, it is a lot of work, but a Windows 8 to Windows 10 upgrade isn't possible. And besides the new version of QuickBooks, I had several other software upgrades that I'd been waiting on doing. It seemed like the perfect time to do them all.
My idea was to recreate the three (3) partitions and drive letters (C:, D: and E:) from the original 1TB drive using both of the 1TB drives. The C: and D: drive partitions would be on the first (boot) drive and the E: drive partition would take up the whole second drive. This, in effect, would double my storage space.
Now when I originally started this upgrade in February, I disconnected the old 1TB and performed a clean install of Windows 10 on the new 1TB drive. Once I had Windows 10 installed and drivers updated, I shut down my computer and reattached the old 1TB drive. During this time, I also changed the port that the drives connected to on the motherboard (I wanted the boot drive on the 0 port).
Now I've done this type of upgrade many times before. The only problem I was having was the motherboard BIOS was having issues with the boot records on the two drives. It didn't help that the drives were from the same manufacturer (Western Digital) and the exact same size (1TB). The new one was a 'Black' drive and the old one was a 'Blue' drive. They have the same specs but the 'Black' drive has a five (5) year warranty, were the 'Blue' drive has only a two (2) year warranty.
It was time to make the change over. I booted up to Windows 8 one last time and did a software inventory using Belarc Advisor. When it was done, printed out a copy for my use. Belarc Advisor gives a complete list of all the software installed on your computer. Since I was doing a clean install of Windows 10, I would defiantly use the list for reinstalling software.
Then I went into the BIOS and changed the boot order so that Windows 10 drive booted automatically. Once Windows 10 was back up and running, I needed to get my files off of the old drive. I had already created the new C: and D: drives / partitions on the new drive, so I just copied over the contents of the old D: drive (which was now H:) to the new D: drive. The contents of the third partition (E:) on the old drive would have to go onto an external drive temporarily.
A screen shot of the Disk2vhd user interface
At this point I have two of the original three partitions / drives recreated (C: and D:). It was time to take care of the original C: drive. Just to be on the safe side, I decided to create an image of it. I downloaded the latest version of Disk2vhd from Microsoft (it's part of the Sysinternals Suite) and proceeded to create an image of the C: drive. Once it was done I copied the image over to an external drive along with a copy of the AppData folder from my old profile.
It was now time to delete all of the original partitions on the old 1TB drive and reformat it into just one partition / drive (E:). When I reformatted it, the Master Boot Record (MBR) was also deleted along with all of the partitions. This solved the problem with the motherboard not knowing what MBR to use at start up. Now that the E: drive was back in place, I copied all of the files I had put on the external drive.
Attaching a VHD file inside of Disk Management
Everything from here on out was downhill. The only issue I had was a disk collision warning when I first attached the VHD in Windows 10. Windows 10 wrote a new disk signature to the VHD file and all was good. Now all I had to do is just reinstall all of my software.
With Microsoft giving away free Windows 10 upgrades to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users, the one question that I keep getting asked is "Should I upgrade to Windows 10?" The real question should be "Will my hardware run smoothly with Windows 10?" Let's take a look and see if you should upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 to Windows 10.
If you have the GWT (Get Windows 10) icon on the taskbar, you can find out if your hardware and software will run on Windows 10. Just remember that even if GWT says all everything is compliant with Windows 10, it doesn't mean it will work smoothly with Windows 10. I have seen systems that were completely compatible with Windows 10, but when they got the upgraded, the performance was below what it was with the previous version of Windows.
First thing we should look at are the hardware requirements for Windows 10. When compared to Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, they are essentially exactly same for all three versions.
So what differentiates Windows 10 from Windows 7 or Windows 8? The hardware drivers. Let me explain.
In the past when a manufacturer discontinued a piece of hardware, Microsoft would take the last known Windows Hardware Quality Labs (WHQL) certified driver for that hardware and incorporate it into the driver's directory for the next version of Windows. The Windows\System32\Drivers directory is the generic driver collection that is included inside of the installation media for Windows. If Windows cannot find a driver for a specific piece of hardware in the driver's directory, it will go out to the Internet database and look for a suitable driver.
But when the hardware becomes out dated, usually it is the second version of Windows since it was discontinued, the driver can be removed from the driver's directory. That's when things can get tough. I've actually have had to go back into previous versions of Windows installation media and extract drivers from older driver directories. In fact, I have a customer that has a large format plotter that Windows hasn't had a driver for since Windows Server 2003 64-bit. But I have extracted the driver from the installation media and have used it on 64-bit versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7 with no problem.
So what am I saying? Well it comes down to whether the manufacturer(s) of your hardware are still supporting them with new drivers. If the hardware is no longer being sold, you can pretty much assume that there will be no new drivers for it. Now there are exceptions to this rule. Expansion cards, like graphic / video cards are one of them. I've found that companies like NVIDIA and AMD will create new drivers for what they call legacy hardware (discontinued hardware).
Before you decide to upgrade your Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 computer, take a couple of minutes and go over to all of the manufacturer's website(s) and locate the drivers for your system components. A few minutes now can save you hours later. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
Now with all of that in mind, if the last version of drivers that came from the manufacturer was for Windows 7, then the drivers in Windows 8.1 were Microsoft WHQL certified drivers. And if that is the case, then Windows 10 may or may not come with a compatible generic driver. It may have to go out to the Internet data base and find a driver. And if that's the case, you can bet it will be a completely generic driver.
But if the last version of drivers that came from the manufacturer was for Windows 8.1, then the Windows 10 driver will most likely be a Microsoft WHQL certified hardware driver.
Bottom line; if your system and/or components were built before the release of Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 (October 2012) and are no longer in production, then I would be skeptical on whether to upgrade to Windows 10. But if your system and/or components were built after the release of Windows 8 / Windows 8.1 (October 2012) and may or may not be still in production, there is a good chance that Windows 10 will run perfectly fine. But remember, there will be exceptions.
With the release of Windows 10 comes the inevitable upgrade from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, And with the upgrade being free for the first year, why not upgrade to Windows 10? But before you do, there are some things you should do before. Here are seven (7) things to do before and after upgrading to Windows 10.
Doing an in-place upgrade has its pros and cons. Even though Microsoft claims that if the software runs on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 it will run on Windows 10, there will be exceptions to the rule. The same can be said about hardware too. Remember that Windows 10 will only come with generic drivers for a good portion of the hardware out there. Running the upgrade advisor will tell what issues you may have and then you can find a fix prior to performing the upgrade. Download any hardware specific drivers that you will need and save them to a flash drive or network folder.
One of the last things you want is to have the upgrade fail because of errors on the system drive. Especially if it the failure were to happen while coping new files and left you system un-bootable. To be on the safe side, run Windows disk checking utility CHKDSK.
Check your hard disk for errors in Windows 7
Check your hard drive for errors in Windows 8
It's now time to clean the system up. Uninstall any program you don't need and/or want and then run Windows built-in Disk Cleanup utility. You can also use a program like CCleaner, but be careful not to go too far with it.
Windows 7 Disk Cleanup
Windows 8 Disk Cleanup
Clean up and optimize your computer with CCleaner
As the old saying goes "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure", so a complete backup of your system is the next thing to do. Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 both have a built-in File Recovery program that can do a full system image to an external drive, network folder or DVD's. You will also need to create a system repair disk to boot the system so that you can restore the system image you create, just in case. Links to both are located on the left-side column of the File Recovery program screen.
Now the File Recovery program can be kind of hard to find, especially in Windows 8.1. So to make sure you are running it with the correct privileges, I suggest just running the program using an administrative command prompt.
How to open a Command Prompt with Administrator privileges in Windows 7
How to open a Command Prompt with Administrator privileges in Windows 8
To open the File Recovery program, just type the following into an admin command prompt and hit enter.
Having a complete list of all of the hardware and software inside your computer can come in really handy if anything were to go wrong. Belarc Advisor is a great program for creating an inventory of your computers software and hardware, including any software installation keys. Once it is done creating an inventory, it opens the results in a web browser. Print or save the results to a flash drive, just in case you might need it down the road.
Belarc Advisor
This is not mandatory but I would recommend uninstalling any anti-virus, anti-malware, EMET, etc. program before the upgrade. These types of programs look for malicious activity geared toward the operating system and could create a really big headache during the upgrade. It's better to be safe than sorry.
Grab a drink and have a seat, it'll take a little while.
It's now time to install any device specific drivers you downloaded in Step #1. Once that is done, it's time to download the latest version of all the software you removed in Step #6. If you're unsure what version of a program you had installed, just go through the inventory you created in Step #5.
When it comes to desktop computer repair, one of the most common hardware failures are CD/DVD/BD drives. If you're having problems with getting the disk tray to eject or disks are not being recognized, it may be time to replace it. Here's how to replace a CD/DVD/BD drive in your desktop computer.
So you're tired of trying to get your old desktop CD/DVD/BD drive to work and are ready to replace it with a new one. Having to use a paper clip to manually eject your computer's CD/DVD/BD drive tray can get old really quick. Replacing a desktop CD/DVD/BD drive is fairly easy; you just have to make sure you get one with the correct connections and dimensions.
The majority of CD/DVD/BD drives on the market nowadays will have SATA (Serial ATA) connectors for data and power. But there are still quite a few older systems that still use PATA (Parallel ATA) for data and 4 Pin Molex for power. SATA type drives are the de facto standard, so finding PATA replacement drives can be tricky. Newegg and TigerDirect are good places to find these older style drives.
PATA and SATA drive connections
Desktop CD/DVD drives have standard width and height dimensions, so all you have to do is check the depth of your existing drive. Sometimes you have room to put a deeper drive in and sometimes you don't. Always check to see what kind of space you have available before purchasing a replacement drive.
Once you have your new CD/DVD/BD drive you will need to uninstall the software that came with your old CD/DVD/BD drive. It's usually a version of Nero or PowerDVD and it is branded to your old drive. Once you remove the old drive, the software that came bundled with it won't work anymore. Your new drive should have come with its own disk burning software.
From here we need to turn the computer off, disconnect the power cord from the back of the system and open up the case. Now there are two possible ways of mounting the CD/DVD/BD drive in the case: screws or quick release rails. You may have to remove the front bezel from the case to get the CD/DVD/BD drive, as it will need to come out the front of the case. Make note of the connections and remove the old drive and replace with the new one.
Drives attached by screws and quick release rails
Once you get the system back together, power it up and let Windows discover the new CD/DVD/BD drive. Windows may require a restart to finalize the setup. After that you are ready to install the software that came with the new drive.
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Halloween is just nine days away. Have you found your costume? If not, you may want to think sweet. Whether Tootsie Rolls, Sugar Babies or Hershey's Kisses, what better way to pay tribute to your favorite sugary snack then by donning a costume in its likeness? We happen to know that Yummery Shopanista, Erin has a big thing for fall's sweetest (and most triangular) treat. We think she'd look just darling in this Candy Corn Costume with its outrageous wig and flirty tri-color dress. Now if only I could find such a garb for my grams to pay homage to her favorite snack. Apparently though, there's not much demand for Sunkist Prune costumes.
I dare you to resist the urge to burst into songs from The Little Mermaid after you dress your adorable little girl or boy in this bright and cheerful lobster outfit. Perhaps the early exposure to seafood will also curb any chance that your baby will develop into a picky non-seafood eater. If you're still looking for a costume of your own to go along with your bouncing crustacean might I suggest a stick of butter. Or is that too dark?
Even if you aren't dressing up like a hamburger this year I still think this unique Fancy Ketchup trick-or-treat tote is a great accompaniment to any foodie costume. Who needs pumpkins when you can carry all of your Junior Mints home in a felt sack made to look like a condiment? And you're guaranteed not to have any moments of confusion when all of the neighborhood kids get together to compare candy. Your bag will not only be practical and cute, but you'll also standout in the crowd. You don't want to be like everyone else do you?
Puppies in costumes are seriously squeal worthy, but a puppy dressed like a taco is laugh out loud funny. Finally get back at man's best friend for chewing up your favorite pair of stilettos with this hilarious getup that is sure to attract attention. I suppose the only question left is whether your dog wants to be eaten with hot, medium, or mild salsa.
For a lot of women Halloween is about bringing sexy back in a big way. So instead of being a "sexy nurse" or a "sexy superhero" this year why not flaunt yourself in a Sexy Strawberry Shortcake costume? The tights alone make this look beyond fabulous and I'm sure tons of party-goers will run up to you squealing and gushing about how amazing you look and then you can all reminisce about your collection of dolls. Personally I was a big fan of Angel Cake and Blueberry Muffin too. Plus, if you're really creative maybe you can get your date to dress up like the Purple Pie Man?
Who doesn't love Macaroni and Cheese? It's the ultimate comfort food and now your child can be a walking/talking reminder to all your neighbors of this favorite dinner dish. After they toss some Junior Mints into little Sally's trick-or-treat sac I bet Mr. Wilson's next move will be straight for the Kraft Blue Box, or if he's a little more ambitious a cheese grater. If this costume came in adult sizes I would so wear it, if only for the goofy noodle hat.


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At Gemvara, we believe that the jewelry you wear should be one of a kind, like you. That's why we make each piece to order, one at a time, just the way you want it. Choose amethyst and rose gold or black diamond and platinum: it's your choice. Mix and match gems and precious metals for a look that's exactly you. It's jewelry for all life's occasions, from an anniversary or graduation to your own personal milestones and celebrations. Celebrate the birth of a child with a brilliant gift of jewelry that will always remind her of this happy moment. Gemvara uses only the highest quality materials to craft your yellow gold march birthstone romantic jewelry design with meticulous attention to detail. Our precious metals are recycled or responsibly mined. March's birthstone is aquamarine, which has a pale beauty that will add elegance to your look. The most popular fine jewelry alloy in America, 14k yellow gold is 58.5% pure gold mixed with other metals that give it excellent durability. Our wide selection of yellow gold march birthstone romantic jewelry by Just Like You Designs, David West, Randy Dixon, and other talented designers means you can find jewelry that's exactly your style. You can also shop by style, choosing our Has Matching Band, Timeless Hearts, or Zodiac Collections. Gemvara's fine quality yellow gold march birthstone romantic jewelry is designed to be passed down for generations to come, crafted by hand in the United States.
We can help right away. Chat with a jewelry expert now!


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Holt McCallany to Lead David Fincher's 'Mindhunter' [UPDATED]
Posted on Wednesday, March 9th, 2016 by Jack Giroux
Back in 2010, Mindhunter was set up at HBO, but the David Fincher-produced show recently found a new home at Netflix. Following a successful collaboration on House of Cards, Fincher, along with Charlize Theron, is adapting John Douglas and Mark Olshaker's book, "Mind Hunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit," for the streaming service.
Anna Torv (Fringe) and Jonathan Groff (Looking) have just joined the Mindhunter cast. Learn more about the television series below.
UPDATE: Holt McCallany (Lights Out) has just been cast as the Mindhunter lead, and new details have emerged about his and his co-star's roles. More details after the jump.


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Search For Your New Furniture
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The Black Cushion Home Office Chair by Coaster with cushion seat and back is a stylish and comfortable addition to your office. This compact office chair includes casters for mobility, arm support, swivel back and gas lift for your maximum convenience. DimensionsH-35 1/2 - 40 1/2" W-22" L-22 1/2"


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User Forms
Visiting Conference/Meeting Application
Community members interested in conducting a conference or meeting at the Coastal Studies Center must apply in writing using the online application form. Visiting users should have a faculty sponsor and will be assessed a user fee.
Visiting Course Application
Community member interested in leading a class at the Coastal Studies Center, or utilizing the facilities or grounds for outreach activities should have a faculty sponsor and apply using the on line form. Visiting courses will be assessed a user fee.
Visiting Researcher Application
Persons interested in using the Coastal Studies Center for research should have a faculty sponsor and apply using the online link provided. Visiting user fees will be assessed.
For more information, see "Visitor Use". If you have questions, please contact Rosemary Armstrong, phone 207-725-3396 or via e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com


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I always thought the I got the LOOKS and SHE got the BRAINS! :-D But recently I discovered she got BOTH looks and brains!your friend,john
( Man, what is wrong with me today????..I just sent my sis a nice letter telling her how much that I loved her too). Amazing what a picture can do to a person, isnt it?your friend,john
Amazing what a picture can do to a person, isnt it?your friend,john
(I think your sister is very pretty, and you don't look too bad either but you're a guy and guys don't comment on the prettiness of other guys so I won't say anything else)
Dont you know me yet Brian???I was one of those kids peeking :shock: under the bathroom door! Didnt you have sisters that had friends over? Dont worry Brian, its ok......I'll be glad to teach you the art of "Door Diving"!your friend,john
Thats ok Brian! I could never see anything except toes!your friend,john
So what happens if you can't smell. Neither my nose nor my sense of smell work anymore due to tramatic head injuries.The Nice thing I can say about it is: "No Body Offends Me!"


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T3 Tourmaline Professional Paddle Brush
I really liked this brush and found it was very easy to use with the T3 dryer. The combination made my hair look as though I had gotten a professional "Dominican" blow out! I really don't use paddle brushes often, but this one really gripped my hair well without creating any knots and was easy for me to maneuver with the dryer too."
Pop this in your bag or get a few and leave one in the car, desk drawer...wherever. $1 from the sale of each brush will be donated to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.Tags: beauty, travel, hair care, hair brush, hair, brush, hair styling, Sephora, breast cancerAdded 10 Years Ago from Sephora


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MADAM MIAOW'S CULTURE LOUNGE on RESONANCE FMListen to all the programmes in Anna Chen's Resonance FM series.
Reaching for my GnuReaching for my Gnu Anna's collection of poetry is available at Amazon as an eBook and paperback. US readers can buy the ebook here.
Resonance 104.4FM Radioplayer
Madam Miaow SaysAnna Chen's Orwell Prize shortlisted blog.
Anna May Wong Must Die!Anna Chen's funny & fabulous one-woman show — a personal journey through the life and crimes of Hollywood's first Chinese screen legend with satire, songs and a few laughs.
Anna's blog
- BBC Radio 4 Extra to repeat ST IVES AND ME Wed 21st Dec 6.30am, 1.30pm and 8.30pm: presented by Anna Chen
- Helena Bonett's Tate film of Barbara Hepworth's Trewyn Studio in St Ives screened
- Anna May Wong: A Celestial Star in Piccadilly, BBC Radio 4 Extra tomorrow then iPlayer for 30 days
- British Born Chinese documentary panel discussion at the LSE: audio
- Anna May Wong Must Die! in China: Anna Chen's radio interview on Beijing's Studio Plus
Frisk me
Tag Archives: Burger
New videos of Anna Chen's poetry: I Am Rich and You Are Poor
Video of Anna's poem, "I Am Rich and You Are Poor: lines on dead Chinese workers and their rich benefactors". Recorded in a pop-up studio 11 July 2013. NEW: Anna Chen's Pop-Up poetry video collection Burger I Am Rich and … Continue reading
Posted in Poetry, Reaching for my Gnu, Video Tagged Burger, I am rich, Poe, Pop up, yellowface Leave a comment


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> Metro Vac N'Blo Portable Vacuum
Metro Vac N'Blo Portable Vacuum
You'll Find 101 Uses for this Powerful Vacuum/Power Blower!
Treat yourself to the ultimate detailing tool! The Metro Vac N' Blo is a combination industrial vac and power blower in a convenient lightweight unit. The Vac'N'Blo, a compact 17" long x 7" diameter, 4.0 peak horsepower unit, comes with a 6' flexible hose, 2- 20" extension wands, crevice tool, inflator adapter, dust brush, Pik-All nozzle, a 4-piece micro cleaning tool kit, shoulder strap, 4 wheel dolly and blower nozzle. Now the Vac N Blo also comes with a swivel carpet and floor attachment!
Use this mighty vac on your vehicle's carpeting and upholstery; then add the crevice tool to get into all the crevices- door moldings, a/c vents, stereo and control panels.
I have found
another great use
for this tool! After washing and rinsing, I use the powerful air blower to dry the outside of my vehicle. Then a quick wipe with my favorite Cobra Guzzler Detailing Towel leaves a flawless finish! This tool will make detailing your vehicle fast and fun.
The Metro Vac N' Blo includes 10 attachments to clean anywhere! The crevice tool and micro tool kit allow you to clean dust out of vents, seams, and cup holders. The dusting brush cleans off the dashboard in seconds.
You will find an endless amount of uses around the home for the Metro Vac N' Blo. Dust off computer components, stereo equipment, appliances with the blower. The blower will pump up inflatables in seconds, and whisk leaves and debris from walks, patios, gutters and driveways. Vacuum the carpets and upholstery in your vehicle, boat, RV, and home. You will find 101 ways to make your chores easier with this versatile, powerful tool.
Accessories Included:
Flexible 6 ft. Hose
Carpet/Floor Tool
2 – 20 inch extension wands
"Pik-All" nozzle
Crevice tool
Dusting Brush
Blower Nozzle
Inflator Adapter
4-Piece Micro Cleaning Tool Kit
4-Wheel Dolly
2 Disposable Bags
* Increase your reach by adding on a
6 Ft. Flexible Hose
to this vacuum's existing hose. Scroll to the bottom of the page to purchase or click on the icon for details.
Replacement bags for the Metro Vac N' Blo are available below!
Compare this item to other Metro Vacuums on our
Metro Vac Comparison Chart
The web site has tons of useful information. I purchased some products available only through AutoGeek and some that could be found elsewhere. But the ease of ordering all in one place sold me. Their shipping is so fast that when I noticed I had made an error in typing my address and called them the next day... too late.. my order had already been shipped (UPS found me anyway). But the lady on the phone was very nice and very helpful! I will buy from them again!
C. Snyder, Springfield, MO
Metro Vac N'Blo Portable Vacuum
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Metro Master Blaster 8hp
with 30 foot hose
Metro Wall Mounted Vac N' Blo SR.
Metro Air Force Commander Motorcycle Dryer
Metro Stainless Steel Compact Canister Vacuum
Metropolitan Stainless Steel Full-Size Canister Vacuum
Metro Soft Pack Dryer & Vacuum Carrying Case
Vac N' Blo 4 Wheel Dolly
Air Force Blaster Mounting Bracket
Metro Vac Wall Mounting Bracket
Metro Hand Vac Replacement Filters
1 Reusable Cloth Bag for Vac N' Blo & Full Size Stainless Steel Vac
Metro Micro Turbo Revolving Brush Tool
Metro Hose Hanger
Metro Vac Attachment Holder
Metro Turbo Hand Tool
Metro Vac N Blo 6 Ft. Hose
Metro Vac N Blo 3 ft. Hose
Disposable Replacement
Filters for Vac N Blo (5 pack)
Metro Air Force Commander Pet Dryer
Metro Vac Super Extendo Car Detailing Crevice Tool
Metro Vac N'Blo Portable Vacuum
Stars based on
Knoxville tn
5 Stars
I would recommend this item to a friend.
Great size and powerful
October 27, 2016
Easy to handle powerful I love the size
Omaha NE
5 Stars
I would recommend this item to a friend.
August 29, 2016
Because of the price I debated on getting this for a long time. Instead I just made do with a handheld vacuum, but now I regret putting it off for so long. This is one of the best purchases I have made for my garage
Sarasota, Florida
5 Stars
I would recommend this item to a friend.
Metro's Vac N' Blo
January 31, 2016
This little machine really sucks...dirt off the floor quite well. I compared it to a certain red rival hand held vac & it made quick work out of what red was having difficulty picking up. The operation is quiet, so it's not obnoxious. I have no need for the blower side as I have the Metro Air Force Master Blaster. The Vac N' Blo is definitely my go to shop vacuum.
Quiet, powerful operation. Comes with plenty af attachment options.
Waco, TX
5 Stars
I would recommend this item to a friend.
August 18, 2015
Don't let its size fool you, this tiny vacuum packs a mean punch. Its 4 horsepower motor provides enough suction to extract some of the most stubborn dirt, and the power head makes cleaning flatter surfaces quick and easy. It does use a bag, so be sure to order a pack to two of those. I can clean two filthy cars or five to seven cleaner cars on one bag. Need a blower to dry wheels, engine bays, or get water out of seams? Just take off the filter assembly, which snaps into place with two latches, leave the foam disc filter in, and stick the hose on the blower port with the blower nozzle attached. It blows warm air to make drying that much faster. The included shoulder strap really comes in handy when using it as a blower. You can even adjust the level of sucking and blowing. The end of the hose has a way to adjust, using a collar with a gap, that covers a hole. Just twist to the desired level of suction. It becomes obvious once you see it.
Lightweight, powerful, easy to use, well made
Included hose does not clip to blower port, but that is not a problem. No way to lock in power adjustment feature on hose. My hand often turns the collar during use.
Greg Proffitt
Marion Ar.
5 Stars
I would recommend this item to a friend.
Great product.
July 30, 2014
A very good product . Easy to use does a great job
The best thing I have ever bought for my car needs
5 Stars
I would recommend this item to a friend.
Works Well Beyond Expectations
April 16, 2014
In spite of the hype from the other reviews, I was skeptical as to the ability of this little machine. Although I've only used it a few times since I received it two weeks ago, I am no longer a skeptic - this machine rocks!! It is compact and EXTREMELY portable, so its power is very deceptive, but make no mistake: this machine has way more power than you probably need and/or are used to in such a compact unit. I swear this thing could suck the paint off of walls! Likewise, because it's at the opposite end of the vacuum, the blower is incredibly effective at blowing the water out of cracks and crevices, which significantly reduces drying effort and time. All-in-all, I HIGHLY recommend this mighty little detailing tool!
5 Stars
May 22, 2013
This little vac is great. Hard to believe how powerfull it is from it's size. Nearly pulls the carpet up from the floor. Blower is great for drying car or small areas. Highly recommend it to anyone.
Mark Duich
5 Stars
Excellent Product
August 18, 2010
This is an excellent product and good value. It is good to see that we still want to make a vacuum cleaner in the U.S. I would recommend the Vac N Blo to my friends.
5 Stars
WOW! Best Vacuum
March 26, 2010
This is by far the best vacuum i have ever owned and extremely recoomend it
5 Stars
Metro Vac N' Blo
May 13, 2009
The Metro Vac N' Blo is the best car vaccum I've used. Just the right size, this thing sucks like all get out. Carpet, crevices, dash vents, it pulls out dirt and dust. My only regret is I wish I bought it sooner
1 Stars
Sorry - questionable Quality
August 24, 2008
Received this as a Christmas gift and have dedicated it's use to my wife's Lexus and my StreetRod. Total use time in approximately 7 mos has been about 2 hrs. After about a couple of months of use, the unit began to overheat - Called Metro and immediately they indicated it was ON/OFF switch problem. They sent me a new switch which I installed. Now, after about another couple of months of very limited use it's back to it's old ways - overheating and shutting down again. I'm waiting to see how this is resolved and have asked Auto Geek to help after first approaching the mfr. At this point, I wouldn't recommend it.
Pet owner
5 Stars
Great on pet fur!
May 30, 2008
German Shepherds can shed quite a bit and getting fur out of a vehicle's carpet can be very difficult, even with the high powered vacs found at the gas station. Using the Metro Vac with the optional Metro Turbo Hand Tool has made removing fur much easier. The wheels on the canister are also a plus. Its handy for cleaning stairs too.
5 Stars
Very nice product
March 18, 2008
Works very nice and is very handy!
4 Stars
Metro Vac N' Blo
December 26, 2006
Excellent product..a very versatile product
4 Stars
Vac n Blo
October 11, 2006
Works well, but not as amazing as everyone says it is. Well made and sturdy, easy to use, and suction is great but not amazing. Blow function cannot dry a car any faster than a water blade or towels can, which was a disappointment.
Amit Patel
5 Stars
Vac N' Blo
April 19, 2006
I have been a Metro brand owner (Metro-DataVac) for several years and love it for electronics/PC usage. I saw the Vac N' Blo and HAD to have one for the car and house use. After trying it out with the 4hp motor that it has all I can say is WOW! This is a must for everyone that is a clean freak. The powerful suction picks up everthing from heavy debris to the finest particles. The blower end is amazing with lot of force. I rate this vac an A+ on the report card.
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text:
Your Account
Video games have come a long way in the past 30 years; from classic consoles and arcade games to modern adventure games. Now you can recreate those experiences on the easily-configurable and efficient $35 Raspberry Pi Linux computer.
Instant Raspberry Pi Gaming will show you how to install, set up, and run various classic consoles, arcade systems, and modern adventure games on your Raspberry Pi device.
With Instant Raspberry Pi Gaming, you will start by configuring your SD card and selecting the games you wish to install before learning how to keep your machine up-to-date and running smoothly. You will learn how to install and play MAME, SNES, Atari 2600, and PlayStation emulators. You will also look at the different one-step installers available to make your gaming life easier. After that, you will play in the Open Arena, based on Quake 3, and then you can relax in the 3D sandbox of Minecraft. You will also learn how to find more games to install from the Raspberry Pi app store.
Filled with practical, step-by-step instructions and clear explanations for the most important and useful tasks. A simple how-to book with recipes laid out in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step manner that will have you gaming in no time!
Instant Raspberry Pi Gaming is designed for anyone who doesn't mind using the command line from time to time, who can format an SD card on their computer, and who loves to play video games on all devices. If you love classic arcades, platformers, first-person shooters, and emulating game consoles, then this is the book for you.
(based on 1 review)
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Beginner's Guide
By B the reviewer
from San Francisco
Best Uses
Comments about oreilly Instant Raspberry Pi Gaming:
As a complete beginner to Raspberry Pi, this book was excellent. The easy to follow, step-by-step recipes provided setup guides for different software (MAME, SNES, Atari 2600, PlayStation emulators). After installing the emulators, there were simple maintenance instructions for keeping everything up-to-date and I was playing in no time. Additionally, the Raspberry Pi App Store had additional games to choose from to extend my gaming experience. If you're comfortable with basic command line functions and can format your own SD card, you'll be good to go with the recipes in this book.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
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© 2016, O'Reilly Media, Inc.
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All trademarks and registered trademarks appearing on oreilly.com are the property of their respective owners.


text:
This is a discussion on Just Want To Say Thanks within the New Members Introduce Yourself forums, part of the Welcome To DefensiveCarry.com category; I'm new here on the site and have been reading through the scenarios section for a few evenings now. I wanted to thank everyone personally ...
I'm new here on the site and have been reading through the scenarios section for a few evenings now. I wanted to thank everyone personally for posting all the great scenarios and real life stories, as well as the useful comments and suggestions. I've made it to about 8 pages and have learned a huge amount about how to be prepared and situational awareness that I hope I never have to use, but will be glad I read all this if I do.
So Thank You everyone! I think every member should read as much of this section as possible.
Welcome aboard from a fellow Missourian! Don't be a stranger. You are welcome to prowl and growl on these pages as much as the rest of us!
Semper Fi
"The gun is the great equalizer... For it is the gun, that allows the meek to repel the monsters; Whom are bigger, stronger and without conscience, prey on those who without one, would surely perish."
Welcome from Michigan!
I agree, everyone should read and learn from the experiences posted here.
Keep reading!
*WARNING - I may or may not know what I am talking about.
There are many very knowledgeable people who participate in some of the discussions. Many folks have been 'round the dance floor a few times, so there is a lot of experience with real life scenarios. Many of the scenarios posted are hypothetical, sure, but a lot of the responses from folks come from actual situations in their lives.
BTDT, myself, a few times. It's not pretty. It's not something you try to remember. But there are certainly elements that stay with a person. For a fact, I've learned some simple, base lessons that have changed how I see the world. As a result of 20yrs+ of adjusting, the way I scan and view things is simply a part of me, a part of how I go about my daily life. It's no longer much of an effort or a concern, though I won't go unarmed wherever I go.
Welcome to the forum!
Be safe.
Your best weapon is your brain. Don't leave home without it.
Thoughts: Justifiable self defense (A.O.J.).
Explain: How does disarming victims reduce the number of victims?
Reason over Force: Why the Gun is Civilization (Marko Kloos).
Welcome from Las Vegas, Nevada!
"Gun control is being able to hit your target."
Glock 26
Welcome! That's a lot how I felt when I first joined. It's been a real eye-opener!
__________________________________________________ ____
You Can Also Find Me On Personal Defense Forum Dot Com
Welcome from the snow covered hills of Virginia. Lots of good people here and lots of great information to learn from. Take from it what you will, and add to it what you can. Admission is free and coffee is in the back....sometimes, we make popcorn!!!
Know Guns, Know Safety, Know Peace.
No Guns, No Safety, No Peace.
Welcome from the Great State of Kentucky........
this is a GREAT forum with GREAT people :)
Read and learn, Bullet.
Great Photo, Bark'n!
Can you get me a ride?
Capt. Art
Welcome from New Mexico! You'll find this Forum doesn't tolerate the back biting and bickering that's so common on other forums.
BE PREPARED - Noah didn't build the Ark when it was raining!
Si vis pacem, para bellum
NRA Life Member
Welcome from Oklahoma, don't post a lot, but there is so much info.
Going to Church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in the garage makes you a sports car.
Welcome from the Great State of Texas. Glad to have you here with us.
"I dislike death, however, there are some things I dislike more than death. Therefore, there are times when I will not avoid danger" Mencius"
Glad to see another Missourian aboard.
Bark'n neat picture, I have a good friend from the Sedelia area that is associated with whitman who never sent me that picture.


text:
Bacary Sagna and Alex Song return to the Arsenal starting line-up for tonight's North London derby at White Hart Lane.
The duo are the only two changes from the side that drew with Liverpool on Sunday with Jack Wilshere and Emmanuel Eboue dropping to the bench.
Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott all start while Aaron Ramsey is on the bench.
Team in full: Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Koscielny, Clichy, Diaby, Song, Walcott, Fabregas, Nasri, Van Persie
Subs: Lehmann, Ramsey, Squillaci, Wilshere, Arshavin, Gibbs, BendtnerCopyright 2017 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source


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Cali Swag District Bring the Party Back to Inglewood
Inglewood's latest musical export is Cali Swag District, a group of teenagers who are pushing their youthful and carefree jams, which bear no similarities to the gangsta rap their neighborhood has been historically associated with. Rappers C-Smoove, Yung, JayAre and dancer M-Bone, assure us that the West Coast has seen a new day and that day is now, "Everybody just wants to party and have fun." The group's debut dance-track 'Teach Me How To Dougie' has already become a YouTube phenomenon with over 1.5 million hits, but the young performers still have plans to take the song's success to another level. First order of business: Recruit Soulja Boy — fellow YouTube phenomenon and success story — to hop on the song's remix and seal the deal.
The BoomBox: 'Teach Me How To Dougie' is kind of a big deal on YouTube. Where did the idea for the song come from?
Smoove: One of our friends from Inglewood went to Texas Southern University and he came back on a break and mentioned that the dance was hot out there. He knew how to do it, and he was like, 'ya'll should make a song about this.' So, he came up with the concept and we just went into the studio and made it happen. That's pretty much when we put the stamp on the fact that we were a group.
The BoomBox: Did you realize that the song was going to be an instant hit?
Smoove: Honestly, it was something we did for fun. We didn't expect it to do what it did, but once we saw the reaction from people who came into the studio and heard the song, we felt like it would be the one and we started pushing it hard. This is the first song we really recorded as a group.
The BoomBox: Did everyone in Inglewood pick up the dance moves quickly?
Yung: Everybody down South is good at the dance, because it came from there – the "B-Town Boogie." But in Inglewood, it came kinda late, so the only person I know that's just gotten real good at it is M-Bone. Everybody else is doing it pretty good; we've got our own flavor.
The BoomBox: 'Teach Me How To Dougie' was also the first video you filmed as a group. How was that?
Smoove: We enjoyed it because everybody came through. It was like our whole city came, so we pretty much knew everybody and if we didn't, we got to meet them. It was all around fun, because we didn't expect that many people to turn out, even though that's what we were looking for. We hoped for the best, but … it turned out better than we expected. It was just a good look.
The BoomBox: On Twitter, you're currently pushing to have Soulja Boy jump on the remix. Any luck so far?
Smoove: We've seen our fans re-tweeting it, they're trying to get us to make it happen, but we'll see. It should happen though … more than likely it will.
The BoomBox: Why do you want Soulja Boy on the track?
Smoove: Just so it could have that mainstream stamp. Soulja Boy is a major artist right now, and he brings a lot of people in. He has a lot of fans, so if we get him on that song, it'd be a look good for us, and him at the same time,
Yung: Yeah, it's his region too.
The BoomBox: If Soulja Boy is reading this interview, can you tell him exactly why he needs to jump on the remix for this song?
Yung: Well, [Soulja Boy] you need to jump on this song because Jermaine Dupri did it and everybody else is saying that it'd be a good look if you was on the song. I think it'd be a good look, the bros thing it'd be a good look, so Soulja Boy if you reading this, help your boys out, hop on the song, throw some bars down. You made a dance song, you started on the YouTube thing, we doing the same thing, so show some love man.
The BoomBox: What did Jermaine Dupri do with the song?
Smoove: Jermaine Dupri did an unofficial remix. He just hopped on the song because he liked it. He put a verse in front of the song and they've been playing it in Cali on the radio for the past few days.
Some of Cali's gangsta rap has taken a backseat to the light and fun music that you guys are making. Is everyone on the West Coast just trying to have a good ol' time these days?
Smoove: That's pretty much what it is. We don't focus on the hardcore gangsta rap because that's not what it is out in Cali anymore. It's not about hustling and selling drugs because that eventually faded out. When they were rapping about that, that's what was happening, but that's not what's happening now. It's not as popular as it was.
Yung: Everybody just wants to party!
Smoove: Everybody just wants to party and have fun, so that's what we decided to make our first single about. We have other songs you can dance to — they're not all about one specific dance — but it's not what it used to be in L.A. anymore. It's there, but it's not talked about as much because we don't appreciate it in any way, shape, or form. We've lost a lot of friends to the street life and that's not what we want to talk about because it's not a good thing. It's bad. We don't want to go in that direction, so we just have fun with our music.
The BoomBox: Where did you guys come up with the name Cali Swag District?
Smoove: The name of the group actually came from our visionary Big Wy. He had the name of the group before he had the faces for it. So once he saw us together and saw what we do, he put us in a group and gave us that name. Now it means something to us – California is where we're from obviously, Swag – we all have our own individual swag and the District is our city; Inglewood, California.
Yung: We grew up in the same neighborhood, went to the same high school, junior high and basically we roll with each other, so we all ended up in the same place at the same time and Big Wy put us together, like Smoove said.
The BoomBox: Does your style of dance and music have any relation to Cali's Jerk movement?
Smoove: We're doing our own thing; we don't really associate ourselves with the Jerk movement. Shout out to the New Boyz and everybody doing it, but it's not our thing Coming up, we didn't really fall into the character of the boys in the skinny jeans and all that. We have more of a street aspect, it's just us… it's just different. We try to be different as much as we can.
The BoomBox: Is fashion a big part of your movement?
Smoove: It is our movement. That's what we do; we get fly in our own way. We move away from the skinny jeans and all that, but whatever we feel is fly, we do it. We rock pea coats and Member's Only jackets and our jeans fit – they won't be skinny, but they'll be fitted, like straight legged. Levi's and Rock and Republic are pretty much a big thing. We own all pairs of Levi's and we've got a lot of Rock and Republic. We just do us, but we make it super fly.
The BoomBox: How does partying and having fun translate into your live performances?
Smoove: When we go on stage, we want to give a show that we would like to see. We go up there with as much energy as possible, we try to have as much fun as possible and get the crowd involved. Who likes to see a boring show with rappers just standing up there and rapping the whole time? Depending on the rapper you are, you can do it, but that's not what we want to do when we get to the stage because we want to have fun and make everybody dance and move around. We've been performing together for about eight or nine months now, so we pretty much gave it down packed. We have a lot of fun, we bring lots of energy and we make everybody appreciate the fact that they came out to see a Cali Swag show.
The BoomBox: When can we expect the album? And what can we expect to hear?
Smoove: You can expect it around September. We'll be on our promo run for the next month and a half. We have our club bangers; we have music that you could just chill and listen to, just roll down the street with your top down — lots of different types of music. We have the up tempo songs, but we do have different styles of music because we don't wanna just focus in on one dance and try to make a whole CD about it. We just think diversity.
The BoomBox: Besides Soulja Boy, who else would you guys like to work with?
Yung: We're gonna work with E-40, we're real big fans of E-40. He does his thing in his own unique way and that's somebody that we'd really look forward to working with.


text:
LA Consulting, Inc. has been awarded a contract from Volusia County, FL to conduct an extensive management review of Parks and Central Services (encompassing fleets and facilities). Harry Lorick, P.E., LA Consulting president, made the announcement. The project is slated to begin in early 2009.
Volusia County, comprising 1,207 square miles, is located on the east coast of Central Florida. County seat is DeLand; county population is about 500,000. Volusia County is about an hour's drive north of Disney World and the Kennedy Space Center and is also the headquarters of the Ladies Professional Golf Association and the summer home of the London Symphony Orchestra.
According to Volusia County Special Projects Manager John C. Gamble, LA Consulting was selected based on their nationwide and Florida experience in public works, and recommendations received from Pinellas and Seminole Counties.
LA Consulting also recently completed a management review of all Volusia County maintenance operations in the Public Works Department, which included roads and bridges (1,039 miles, 51 bridges), traffic engineering (414 signals), utilities (water and wastewater-26 treatment plants, collections, distribution points), solid waste (landfill with annual fill of 440,000 tons and a transfer station), mosquito control and drainage.
A number of LA Consulting recommendations are already being implemented and have resulted in more than $1.5 million in improvements that have occurred with an additional seven-figure savings to be realized through business and system enhancements with the firm's assistance.
"LA Consulting's recommendations in solid waste, for instance, helped set the stage for a culture change in that organization that included fleet and overtime reductions, and productivity increases," said Gamble. "The annual savings in solid waste alone is over $1 million. LA Consulting is integral in helping us update our system and is providing important management tools to utilize collected data and manage work flow."


text:
Marc Anthony & Shannon de Lima: Splitsville!
Posted Thursday January 24, 2013 7:50 PM GMT
After sharing the news of their relationship with the public last January, Marc Anthony and Shannon de Lima have called it quits.
The sexy salsa star's rep confirmed the split, saying, "The amicable breakup became official right in mid-January."
At the onset of their romance, the 44-year-old crooner tweeted happily about the Venezuelan model, "To my Shannon, my statue of liberty. Kisses baby!"
The relationship was the first serious relationship since Marc's marriage to Jennifer Lopez ended in 2011.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
filed under Marc Anthony