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Seahawks Blog
Danny O'Neil covers the Seahawks for The Seattle Times.
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Walter Jones says via Twitter he's retiring
Posted by Danny O'Neil
Left tackle Walter Jones, via his Twitter account, indicated he is "retiring from football."
Jones has previously used Twitter to hint at retirement only to have been joking. So stay tuned to see if there is anything to this.
Walter Jones indicated he will retire from football on Sunday.
Jones said via his Twitter account that he had decided, "it is time for me to retire from football." The post was made shortly on Sunday morning, about three to four hours before the Super Bowl was to be played.
Jones has previously used Twitter to hint at his retirement going back to training camp in 2009. Never has it been this blunt, though.
Jones agent, Roosevelt Barnes, could not confirm any decision had been reached. The Seahawks had not been notified of any change in Jones' status.
Jones is one of the most decorated Seahawks in team history, a nine-time Pro Bowler including eight in a row from 2001 through 2008. He has not played since injuring his left knee in Dallas on Thanksgiving
2009 2008.
Jones is considered by most to be one of the best players in franchise history along with Steve Largent.
He subsequently underwent microfracture surgery, forcing him to miss the final four games of the season. It was the first time in 10 years he missed a game because of injury.
Jones sought to return last season in training camp, but his knee was still hurting. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery during training camp, sought to return again in September. The knee remained too sore, though, and his recovery was compromised by the fact he can not many anti-inflammatory medications because of a kidney condition diagnosed when he was a rookie with the team.
Jones was chosen by Seattle with the No. 6 overall choice in 1997.
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been looking around online trying to find a external HDD to play backups on my wii since i have a new wii with the d3v2. ive looked at the compatibility list but im wondering if anyone has had any luck with this one i found at my local walmart. Walmart.com: Western Digital WDBAAF0010HBK-NESN 1TB My Book Essential USB 2.0 External Hard Drive: Computers
OR, if anyone can post a link to a website with a HDD, preferably 1TB, that WILL work. Thanks guys
here is a list of tested HDDs
USB Devices Compatibility List - WikiTemp
Western Digital My Book Essential Edition 1TB should work nicely

subset: commoncrawl


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Nokia is turning to open-source software developers to provide a new web browser for smart phones based on its Series 60 mobile phone software platform.
Series 60 is a user interface layer that runs on the Symbian smart phone operating system. Nokia licenses its software to a number of companies, including LG Electronics, Lenovo Mobile, Panasonic Mobile Communications, Samsung Electronics, Sendo International and Siemens, so the new browser could pop up all over the market.
The browser, to be included in future releases of the Series 60 software, uses two components already employed by Apple in its Safari web browser for its Mac OS X operating system.
The components are based on KHTML and KJS, two elements of the open source Konqueror web browser. Konqueror runs on the K Desktop Environment, open-source software that provides a graphical user interface for the Linux operating system.
Apple and Nokia are allowed to commercialise products based on the project's source code, but must make the source code for the version they sell, including any changes or improvements, available to their customers.
Apple has in the past been criticised for not contributing its changes back to the community in a usable form. It recently altered the way it makes its changes available, providing an easily-accessible online database of the code, although the open source software licence imposed no obligation to do so.
This is not Nokia's first flirtation with the open-source software community. Last month it announced that Linux kernel developers could make use of Nokia-patented technologies under certain conditions, and said it would block the use of Nokia patents by companies that opposed use of their own patents in the Linux kernel.
While open-source software developers appear to be the winners in Nokia's latest move, one company that could be affected is Opera, which supplies Symbian's current browser.
But a spokesperson for Opera said he wasn't worried by the move. "We just announced a couple of months ago a renewed contract with Nokia," he said. Nokia is simply applying a strategy of dual-sourcing critical components, just as it does with hardware, he said.
Nokia sees the web browser as important because around 50 percent of the data traffic generated by users of Nokia smart phones is generated by web browsing activities.
The company intends to apply its experience in mobility to helping the open-source community to develop and enhance these software components.
Nokia expects to ship an open-source browser with support for all the features of the current Opera product ready for licensees of the Series 60 software platform during the first half of 2006.


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Results 6 to 8 of 8
June 9th, 2013 11:26 PM #6Senior Member
- Join Date
- Nov 2011
- Posts
- 3,962
Everly, Callie, Elodie, Hadley, Arden, brynn,
I think that Kree is pretty difficult to find a good match for. Personally I would want to go for something fairly recognizable and soft-sounding to balance it out. Brynn Kree sounds to abrupt & hard to me, while Everly Kree or Elodie Kree work a bit better despite the ee/ee same sound endings. Callie Kree is too matchy. Hadley Kree is nice. Arden Kree is nice. Haven Kree is OK, but I don't think it's my favorite. I think my favorite might be Arden Kree cause it doesn't have the matching ee sound ending, it's recognizable.
June 9th, 2013 11:34 PM #8Senior Member
- Join Date
- Feb 2012
- Posts
- 398
June 9th, 2013 11:47 PM #10Junior Member
- Join Date
- May 2013
- Posts
- 7
Yea I agree definately wouldn't use anything abrupt like brynn with it was just kinda giving an idea of sorts of names I liked. He likes haven too and other names he liked were Laikyn, leighton, kamryn, Lainey , but I wasn't crazy about those. There not all bad we just can't agree on many


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Marc Crawford is feeling the heat in La-La Land.
Not only is the Los Angeles Kings coach under fire for reports last week he instructed Vancouver Canucks players to make Colorado forward Steve Moore "pay the price" in 2004, Crawford is fighting for his job.
There is a strong belief among those in the NHL community that if Crawford's club hadn't knocked off the Buffalo Sabres Thursday, he would have been fired.
Would that make sense? Not really. However, Crawford is on a short leash. Rumour has it Kings GM Dean Lombardi is feeling pressure from ownership to get results and Crawford might not be the right fit for young players.
AROUND THE BOARDS: There's plenty of talk that now that D Scott Niedermayer has returned to the Ducks, RW Teemu Selanne won't be far behind. Sources say GM Brian Burke believes Niedermayer and Selanne come as a package deal ... Former Dallas GM Doug Armstrong Friday attended his first game at American Airlines Arena since being fired by the Stars. He still has three years left on his deal and was sporting a nice tan, but must have been heartbroken to see the Stars drop a 4-2 decision to Ottawa. The word is his decision to rip the 'C' off Mike Modano's chest before the 2005 season came back to haunt Armstrong in the end. Oddly enough, Armstrong sat in a seat in press row, not in the box occupied by new co-GM Brett Hull ... Forget all this talk about San Jose firing coach Ron Wilson. He has changed his style, is more receptive to the players and is pushing the right buttons.
OFF THE GLASS: A lot of players in the Western Conference would be happy to see a team in Las Vegas. A player told Sun Media Friday "the NHL should just go there and get it over with. Just don't allow betting on the NHL in Vegas. Nobody bets on it anyway." The board of governors didn't talk expansion because too many teams are having attendance issues and moves for some franchises are the next step ... Detroit D Nik Lidstrom denied last week that any of the club's Swedish players have talked to Toronto C Mats Sundin about the possibility of his joining the Red Wings at the trade deadline. But sources say the Swedes on Detroit's roster have privately discussed the possibility and believe he'd be the perfect fit ... Don't be surprised if Atlanta RW Marian Hossa doesn't re-sign with the club any time soon. Atlanta GM Don Waddell has had discussions with Hossa's agent, Ritch Winter, but Hossa isn't in any hurry to get a deal done because he wants to see what improvements the team makes. If Hossa gets dealt at the deadline, Ottawa and Detroit will both make a pitch ... The employees in Tampa had a tough time wiping the smiles off their faces when they found out a group led by former Columbus president and GM Doug MacLean had to withdraw its offer to buy the club because of internal issues. Former GM Phil Esposito claimed last week he had a group ready to make a $175-million bid, but decided not to bother.
RUMOURS DU JOUR: With the Christmas roster freeze set for Dec. 19, trade talk is finally starting to heat up. With Niedermayer returning to the Ducks, Burke is trying to swing a trade to clear cap space for him. There's talk the Hawks have shown interest in D Mathieu Schneider, but Burke would like to keep him. Other Ducks who have surfaced in trade rumours: D Francois Beauchemin, D Sean O'Donnell, D Shane Hnidy and C Todd Marchant. If there was any market for RW Todd Bertuzzi, he'd be on that list. Burke will be getting a call from GM/coach Jacques Martin in Florida, who needs help on the blue line badly ... There has been plenty of talk about the Sharks trading C Patrick Marleau. That's partly because he's off to a bad start, didn't play well in the playoffs and has a "no movement" clause that kicks in Jan. 1. It's believed Toronto GM John Ferguson has inquired about Marleau ... There are whispers the Senators contacted the Penguins about LW Gary Roberts or RW Colby Armstrong a month ago. The word is Pittsburgh wanted LW Antoine Vermette in return because the team is looking for a winger to play with C Sidney Crosby. Penguins GM Ray Shero believes Vermette could be a nice fit ... Are the Oilers going to send C Jarrett Stoll to the Blue Jackets for C Gilbert Brule? That's the rumour ... The Senators have had no recent discussions with agent Don Meehan about D Wade Redden. The club is waiting for Meehan to reduce his salary demand below the $6.5 million Redden is making this season before talking about an extension ... Many observers believe free-agent C Peter Forsberg won't play another game in the NHL ... The Habs are sniffing around to see if there is a market for G Cristobal Huet.
Have a nice Sunday.


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QUETTA: The political crisis in Balochistan took a new turn on Monday when speaker of the provincial assembly, Mohammad Aslam Bhootani, in his capacity as acting governor of the province, put on hold a session of the assembly convened by Governor Zulfiqar Ali Magsi on Tuesday.
Mr Bhootani assumed the office of acting governor on Monday when Governor Magsi went abroad on leave.
The governor had convened the session on a summary moved by Chief Minister Nawab Aslam Raisani.
An official handout said on Monday that the acting governor had suppressed the notification issued by the governor about the assembly session. It said the assembly secretariat, on the directive of the speaker, had written a letter to the governor's secretariat asking it to seek fresh advice from the registrar of the Supreme Court on the constitutional position of the Balochistan government and the chief minister in the light of the interim order issued by the court on Oct 12.
The advice was sought because the Tuesday session of the assembly had been summoned on the summary of the chief minister, the handout said.
In view of the interim order about the constitutional position of the provincial government and the chief minister, the acting governor had cancelled the assembly session, it said.
Mr Bhootani also directed the law department to seek advice from the court registrar in this connection, the handout said. A new date for the assembly session would be announced on the basis of the advice, it said.
The acting governor, it is learnt, has apprehensions that if he allows the assembly session to be held on the summary of the chief minister and later if in its detailed order the apex court removes Mr Raisani from office and the assembly is asked to elect a new chief minister, then he (Mr Bhootani) may be accused of committing contempt of court.


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Camfrog Mobile Installation Guide
Learn how to install Camfrog Mobile on your PDA running Windows Mobile.
Install Camfrog Mobile easily on your PDA
As most of Windows Mobile applications, Camfrog provides two ways of installation: CAB installer and MSI installer. You can use either at your convenience. Both are compact single file installation packages and installation will happen mostly automatically, you just need to follow installer prompts.
MSI installer is intended for installing our application on your PDA while it is connected to your PC. You have to have Microsoft ActiveSync installed properly in order to use the MSI installer.
Once you have downloaded CamfrogMobile.msi on your PC from http://download.camfrog.com/mobile/, connect your PDA to PC and make sure ActiveSync has recognized it. If you experienced any troubles at this step, make sure you have the latest version of Microsoft ActiveSync installed.
When your PDA is connected, run CamfrogMobile.msi on your PC and follow the screen instructions.
During the installation process you may be warned that the application publisher is unknown. This warning is safe to ignore so click "Yes".
CAB installer has to be started from the PDA. You can download the package from http://download.camfrog.com/mobile/ using your mobile web-browser or you can download the CAB file from http://download.camfrog.com/mobile/ using browser on your PC. If you have downloaded it already to your PC, you can transfer the file to your PDA using Microsoft ActiveSync.
In case the browser won't launch the installer automatically, you have to locate СamfrogMobile.cab with File Explorer and tap the file to start it manually.
The installation process is fully automated.
If you have a flash memory card installed, a screen will also appear allowing you to choose the installation destination, internal memory or flash card. Make your choice and tap Install.
Installing progress. If you have the previous version of CamfrogMobile installed, a window will appear requesting you to remove the previous version of the program.
Installation complete To run the program, locate it in your Programs menu by tapping Start > Programs.


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Statistiques de Vent de Ann Street Peaks, moyennes sur Mars depuis 2006
This chart illustrates how commonly and how strongly the wind blows from different directions through a typical March. The biggest spokes point in the directions the wind most commonly blows from and the shade of blue implies the strength, with the darkest shade of blue strongest. It is based on 2220 NWW3 forecasts of wind since since 2007, at 3hr intervals, for the closest NWW3 model node to Ann Street Peaks, located 45 km away (28 miles). There are insufficient recording stations world wide to use actual wind data. Without question some coastal places have very localized wind effects that would not be predicted by NWW3.
According to the model, the prevailing wind at Ann Street Peaks blows from the ESE. If the rose diagram shows a close to circular outline, it means there is no strong bias in wind direction at Ann Street Peaks. On the other hand, dominant spokes represent favoured directions, and the more the darkest shade of blue, the stronger the wind. Spokes point in the direction the wind blows from. Over an average March, the model suggests that winds are light enough for the sea to be glassy (pale blue) about 7% of the time (2 days each March) and blows offshore 11% of the time (4 days in an average March). During a typical March winds stronger than >40kph (25mph) are expected on 3 days at Ann Street Peaks
IMPORTANT: Beta version feature! Swell heights are open water values from NWW3. There is no attempt to model near-shore effects. Coastal wave heights will generally be less, especially if the break does not have unobstructed exposure to the open ocean.


text: In article <firstname.lastname@example.com>, Mikhali Mifsud <email@example.com> wrote: > > >If I want pop access I (think) I have to install qpoper. When I try >and install it it complains libc6 and libgdbmg1 is not installed. I >checked stable/binary but couldnt find them. Any ideas? Thanks. Yep. Stable points to hamm [Debian 2.0, libc6], but only since a few days. Your mirror might not be up-to-date yet. Besides, if you really want to install the qpopper from the new "stable", you have to upgrade your whole system to stable Debian-2.0. If you don't want to do that install the qpopper from the previous Debian version, 1.3, nicknamed "bo". Mike. -- Miquel van Smoorenburg | Our vision is to speed up time, firstname.lastname@example.com | eventually eliminating it. -- Unsubscribe? mail -s unsubscribe firstname.lastname@example.com < /dev/null


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Time course of N2 fixation in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
- 101 Downloads
- Citations
Field and greenhouse experiments were conducted to assess the nitrogen fixation rates of four cultivars of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at different growth stages. The 15N isotope dilution technique was used to quantify biological nitrogen fixation. In the greenhouse, cultivars M4403 and Kallmet accumulated 301 and 189 mg N plant−1, respectively, up to 63 days after planting (DAP) of which 57 and 43% was derived from atmosphere. Under field conditions, cultivars Bayocel and Flor de Mayo RMC accumulated in 77 DAP, 147 and 135 kg N ha−1, respectively, of which approximately one-half was derived from the atmosphere. The rates of N2 fixation determined at different growth stages increased as the plants developed, and reached a maximum during the reproductive stage both under field and greenhouse conditions. Differences in translocation of N were observed between the cultivars tested, particularly under field conditions. Thus, the fixed N harvest index was 93 and 60 for cultivars Flor de Mayo and Bayocel, respectively. In early stages of growth, the total content of ureides in the plants correlated with the N fixation rates. The findings reported in the present paper can be used to build a strategy for enhancing biological N2 fixation in common bean.
Key wordscommon bean nitrogen assimilation nitrogen fixation nitrogen partitioning
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Hey all,
I am from the u.k ive been on the site a couple of weeks and realised i hadnt posted here! So here i am, just wanted to say hi, and thanks again for all the info. Though my posts werent always replied, the info on site contained everything i needed, and within a few searches i managed to setup my wii just how i wanted it. For sure i couldnt have done this any easier without this site, so im very grateful.
So many thanks again to All the contributors and im looking forward to hopefully a nice and exciting stay here!
Last edited by sorandor; 02-04-2009 at 04:34 AM.


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Two Players Choice Awards for A-Rod
A-Rod wins two Players Choice Awards
Rodriguez received two of the Major League Baseball Players Association's Players Choice Awards before Monday's game against the Rays, earning honors as the 2007 Player of the Year and the American League Outstanding Player. Yankees teammates and MLBPA representatives LaTroy Hawkins and Ross Ohlendorf presented Rodriguez with the awards in a brief pregame ceremony behind home plate.
Rodriguez led the Major Leagues last season with 54 home runs, 156 RBIs, 143 runs scored and a .643 slugging percentage, winning the AL Most Valuable Player Award in the process. This season, entering Monday's play, he was batting .333 with one home run and four RBIs.
Monday's awards were of a different variety, with votes coming from a secret ballot of Major League players. Rodriguez previously won the Player of the Year Award in 2002, and he has won a record eight Players Choice Awards in his career.
"For me, it was a magical season, both on and off the field, coming together with my teammates in the clubhouse and in the community," Rodriguez said after winning the MVP Award. "To be able to put that type of year, it's certainly a year that I'll never forget."
Along with recognizing Rodriguez on the field, the MLBPA Players Trust -- a charitable foundation established and run entirely by players -- will donate a $70,000 grant to the Boys & Girls Club of Miami. That club will soon house the $1.5 million Alex Rodriguez Education Center, scheduled to open this month with a computer laboratory, Internet access and a meeting area for teenagers.
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Originally Posted by maude~flanders;3809146;
That's from her own clothing line she designed. For hardcore punks like her.
Originally Posted by maude~flanders;3809146;
That's from her own clothing line she designed. For hardcore punks like her.
Next up, worship pastor, Jim Ranger. He sounds good. Not hot.
Jim Ranger gets a pimp package. We see him at home with his three kids. Sings his own song, Drive. He's pretty good. Simon says OK. Kara is hesitating, for the same reason that Avril brought up - he may have a hard time with the travel. But they send him through.
And then a medley to terrible people. And not very entertaining.
If I was in an elevator or walking down the street and heard Neil singing, I wouldn't cover my ears but I wouldn't stop and compliment him either. He's not terrible, but not Idol material.
Why is Avril Lavigne a judge? Did they miss Paula and need an air head?
Reality leaves a lot to the imagination. ~John Lennon
Write for HubPages.
I didn't like him. But how dare Avril say no? She has NO talent.
Avril says no, although Simon said yes. Oh brother!
I don't like Avril as a judge. You judge on voice, not whether they have to give up a life to be on the show. That is their choice.
"How do you know the chosen ones? No greater love hath a man than he lay down his life for his friend. Not for millions, not for glory, not for fame... for one person. In the dark. Where no one will ever know or see." - Sebastion, Babylon 5
You know I can never tell if these crazy people will be good or bad
Going with bad for this one though
If this dude sings kung fu fighting I'll loose it.


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Texas Heat Wave
It gets HOT in Dallas, Texas; but we know just how to beat the heat
After making your selection, copy and paste the embed code above.
Weeks of consecutive triple-digit heat really takes it out of you. At almost unbearably high temperatures, it gets hotter than the Sahara outside. Even though you can't step outdoors without sweating, we know just how to beat the heat. The weather that is, not the basketball team (though we do know how to beat them as well). So as the summer season heats up, we'll help you plan for making the best of it! Cool off with an 'adult snow cone' from La Grange or a refreshing cup of frozen yogurt from Red Mango. Splash in the pool with the kids and remember to keep hydrated. Sweet summer won't hang around forever, so let's live it up before the snow blows in.


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5 Things My Dad Taught Me: The Right Way To Play Slot Machines, Stupid.
My dad likes to gamble. It's his fun thing to do. He's been to Vegas many times, so many times that when I was lost in Vegas I called him and he gave me directions back to my hotel over the phone.
He's not a card player. He likes the slot machines. Today Cathy and I were talking about how strange my dad is with slot machines.
I bet you didn't know there was strategies involved with slot machines, did you? Here's what my dad tells me when I play slots with him.
Rule #1: NEVER, I mean NEVER interrupt the song or jingle that plays when you win something, even if it's a small amount of credits. You'll show the machine you're impatient and you'll just lose all your money.
Rule #2: FREE SPINS ONLY! BONUS GAMES ARE STUPID. If you're going to play a slot machine that has bonuses, pick one with free spins. Not the games, because you'll always regret which door you picked in the bonus game.
Rule #3. If you're not winning, try the button pushing sequence. It's a trick that has never worked for me, but apparently my dad swears by it. Start with the buttons and push them across one by one. Then return the game to your previous bets and bet. It resets the system. (Ok dad.)
Rule #4. Get a rewards card! If you don't have a rewards card, what's the point of gambling.
Rule #5. Make sure you claim your rewards and balances from a person. That way you can butter them up and get better deals.
Thanks Dad for teaching me the things I need to know to get ahead in this tough world. And thanks for all the buffet meals that you've comped me.


text:
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- Who's the Boss
Who's the Boss? was a standard sitcom--turned on its
head. Sure, there was a mom, a dad, two cute kids, a house in the suburbs... and
a live studio audience. But Angela Bower (Judith Light) was a single advertising
exec with a son (Danny Pintauro) and Tony Micelli (Tony Danza) was a widowed
ex-ballplayer with a daughter (Alyssa Milano). The
Connecticut mansion belonged to Angela and Tony wasn't her boyfriend, but rather her housekeeper. Then
there was her mother, Mona (Katherine Helmond). The sexed-up,
slightly cracked grandmother is a primetime staple, but in the former Soap matriarch's hands, the character was a cut above.
As Angela complains to her in the pilot, "You've sent me a man for a
housekeeper!" "Oh, don't be sexist," Mona replies. "A man can do
meaningless, unproductive work just as well as a woman." Meaningless, unproductive work is what Tony does for the Bowers--and does
well--but he and Samantha (Milano) also become part of the family. Angela and
Tony go on a number of dates with other people, but there's an obvious sexual
tension between them. The show would continue to exploit that tension for eight
seasons to great success (even inspiring a British version called The Upper
Hand, with Honor Blackman as the "Mona" character).
Who's the Boss - The Complete First Season
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The 2009 VENDING TIMES Buyers Guide and Directory showcases resources that are in demand by the full-line vending, OCS, foodservice, music, games and bulk vending trades in a single publication. It is unique in its scope, representing the vast number of manufacturers and suppliers that serve a vibrant sales and service industry comprised of merchandise vending and coin machine operators of all kinds.
This year's Buyers Guide makes use of the same rationalized format we adopted seven years ago. A single entry for each listed company appears in the main body, the Alphabetical Listing, beginning on Page 91. Seven main indices precede this alphabetical listing: Major Machine manufacturers; Mini-Market, OCS & CSV manufacturers; Specialty Machine manufacturers; Vendible Product suppliers; Allied Product & Service suppliers; Music & Games manufacturers and suppliers; and Trade Associations. Each index contains the names of companies relevant to each category and directs the reader to the alphabetical listing for more details.
More than 2,000 companies are cataloged by the types of products and services they offer. For example, the reader will find full-line "candy/snack/pastry" machine manufacturers in the "Major Machines" manufacturers index, under that subcategory, and likewise "cashless payment systems" providers in "Allied Products," and so on. The directory's Product Index on Page 61 further aids the user by listing the 200 subcategories organized under the seven main classifications.
Equipment distributors and vend product sales companies -- the regional and local supply lines to operators -- are once again listed in their own sections, organized geographically for added convenience. In the Distributors section, we specify the types of equipment they sell and support (vending, music and games, OCS and money handling). Following is a department for Vending Product Sales Specialists, which lists product brokers and warehouses serving merchandise vendors.
The Buyers Guide begins on Page 41 with VT's Major Machine Specifications, a practical guide to full-line electronically controlled vending machines currently in production. A new format for our specs allowed us to contain the same amount of machine data as last year in 57% less space. It shows essential information on some 100 new vending machines in a side-by-side format that allows readers to compare features of 16 different models on a single page. Vending machines are arranged according to products vended: candy/snack/pastry; cold drinks (including milk and other perishable types); hot beverages; food -- refrigerated and frozen; and combination refrigerated food/beverage/food. We also list the latest money-changing machines, designed specifically for vending and amusement applications, and the newest jukeboxes.
Our annual Buyers Guide appears as part of the July issue (Vol. 49, No. 7); the monthly news and features section can be found between Pages 8 and 38. Including the latest industry news alongside our annual directory allows us to continue our monthly reporting without missing a beat. Our vending section offers several must-read features, including a piece that explores the service life of vending machines as well as interviews with top executives at YoNaturals and Bellis Technology. A comprehensive report on Harris Interactive's latest study on workplace beverage consumption highlights a combined coffee and food segment. VT's acclaimed Music & Games and Bulk Vending departments are chock-a-block with timely items. A profile of the Smile Exchange, a Connecticut-based bulk vending operation, concludes our coverage this month.
The Buyers Guide is among several winning media products for the vending and coin-op trades that VT offers. During the directory's production cycle, more than a dozen Ahead of the Times email newsletters, carrying breaking news, were created and dispatched. We also launched a new website design, expanding content and improving the user interface.
In January, VENDING TIMES, which has earned a sterling reputation as a premier tabloid-size trade journal over almost five decades, underwent a substantial redesign. Our longtime 10-1â"4" x 13" "tabloid" format transitioned into a handier, nominally "letter" size and shape, cutting our "trim" size by 30% and providing a cleaner, more contemporary look. Skyrocketing paper and mailing costs, followed by the Great Recession, which came at a time when magazines and newspapers were already struggling to adapt to the Internet age, have put immense pressure on news publications to find savings and at the same time continue to offer quality journalism to readers. Our readership has responded positively to VT's change, and the savings will allow us to further invest in trade journalism.
We remain devoted to our readers and to improving our print and online media offerings. Don't hesitate to email your suggestions and comments to email@example.com. Manufacturers and suppliers will find a questionnaire for next year's Buyers Guide issue on our downloads page.
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US Church offers alternative gifts for St Valentine's Day
This St Valentine's Day, the Catholic Church in the USA says: "skip the candy and flowers but instead give your spouse or significant other a little something extra by logging on to www.foryourmarriage.org for tips and tools to deal with common issues faced by married and engaged couples and those in serious relationships. Marrying a Catholic but unsure what this means to you as a non-Catholic? Read what the Catholic Church teaches about marriage, sexuality and spirituality. Married for years but still trying to get him to open up more? The Monthly Quiz will prompt a lively discussion between the two of you. Wrestling with life issues such as finances, careers or addictions? Learn to deal with these and other potential problems before they escalate. Sign up for an RSS feed of the Daily Marriage Tip. If you're looking for resources, the website offers direct links to diocesan marriage and family life offices. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) introduced the website last summer as part of the National Pastoral Initiative for Marriage, a broad-based effort to promote the meaning and value of marriage for the Church and society. So far, the website has attracted more than 107,000 visits. Website visitors can also view radio and television spots that feature sidewalk interviews with individuals who answer the question "What Have You Done For Your Marriage Today?" Sheila Garcia, associate director of the USCCB's Secretariat of Laity, Marriage, Family Life and Youth, explained the importance of the Marriage Initiative and the website. "Many people, especially younger adults, wonder if a lifelong marriage is possible. We believe the Church has something to say about marriage and we wanted to get the message out there. Our website offers practical support for couples and reassures them that they're not on their own." Heidi Peckham, head of the Pastoral Ministries for the Diocese of Orlando, praised the website for its "little insights" such as reminders to kiss your spouse in the morning or have lunch together. Janice Petersen Minshew, director of the Palm Beach Diocese's Office of Marriage and Family Life, added, "The For Your Marriage messages are simple, positive and powerful." Source: USCCB


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Ford Explorer Maintenance and Repair
This rumbling sound,does it just last about a second or two at the most?
You need to hold it straight and turn it to the right. The threads might have crossed, check them close.
gbeasley Posts: 1I came back from a 5 hour trip to PA and my heat stopped working. The blower is working, but no heat comes from it. I had a flush and fill done, still no heat. Help!
What Engine? How many miles?
Check for hot water flow through the heater core. With the heater turned on, feel the heater hoses where they enter the fire wall. Are they hot or cold? If not hot, there is not hot water flow. Check the hot water valve to see if it is working. Yours may by operated by a small vacuum line, it could be loose, fell off, leaking or broken. Some heater valves work by a cable. If you can get the heater valve to open, the hot coolant should flow through the heater core. If you know the heater valve is open, you might have a clog in the heater core. Then take the Heater valve off the hoses and check to be sure it's open, blow water from a hose through it. Take the heater hoses off there they go through the fiewall to the heater core, and try to blow water through the heater core with a water hose, in both directions. If everything is open, it should work when connected back and coolant filled properly and heater turned on, unless for some reason the coolant is not coming out of the engine or their is some kind of coolant air bubble or air lock. Bleed all air out of the cooling system.
Good Luck
jetterjet Posts: 3I have a 2000 Explorer XLT with power mirrors. Switch won't move mirrors to the right or up on both the left and right mirror, so it sounds like the switch to me, but before I replace it, I wanted to see if anyone else has seen this problem and fixed it. I removed the switch and tried to troubleshoot, but without a schematic, I don't know how to test...it has 8 contacts, one which is not used and another which has a double connection.
This is a common problem, the power mirror switch goes bad. I had to replace them on 3 of my Explorers. Chances are very good that if you replace the Power Mirror Switch, that it will work again. They were about $30 to $35 last time I bought one.
Good Luck,
E.D. in Sunny Florida
My 02-Mountaineer has 120k miles and my O/D light started flashing rapidly like about 6 months ago and since then I've had my transmission oil serviced and just this week my spark pluggs changed but the light is still flshing rapidly non-stop. It starts flashing rapidly like 4 minutes after I start my car and everything seems normal when I drive it.
The flashing OD light means there is a problem in the transmission. You need to get it scanned, get the codes read to see where the problem is.
Good Luck,
E.D. in Sunny Florida
smokey75 Posts: 4342002 Explorer. The 4WD & 4WD Low lights flash 3 times about every 5 minutes or so. It may be doing it more often when it is cold. 4WD & 4WD Low still engage. Any ideas? Thanks...
I think that message is trying to tell you that there is a fault in the shift motor or in one of the engagement hub mechanisms in one of the front wheels. You should have it checked, although permanent damage won't result most likely. At this point, your shift motor is about due to go on your rig. It's about a $400 repair.
It's a 6 cylinder but it's not a 4x4. The O/D light flashes non-stop very rapidly after the vehicle has been turned on and it stays on until vehicle has been turned off. I had a diagnostic done and they think it could be the "Solenoid sensor"? We'll see...
This is the way it is on my 1997 Explorer, V8. The 1998 is probably the same.
It is near the brake pedal switch. The turn signal flasher plugs into a 5 pin connector.
sbccruz2005 Posts: 1In the owner's manual it states that when the OD light flashes rapidly it could be a transmission problem and to have it checked right away to avoid severe repair. The OD has to do with your Over Drive, so how would that be a Solenoid problem? I have the same problem with my Explorer. It only happens when I'm trying to accelerate too fast and it causes the gears to not shift properly. In researching the problem I found that my vehicle has a sealed transmission system, I can't even pull a dip stick out to check and see if I have enough transmission fluid. I have to take it into a service shop. Just thought I'd let you know that.
The OD has to do with your Over Drive, so how would that be a Solenoid problem?
If the OD light is a trouble indicator for your transmission, to give you early warning before you end up stranded by the road - what difference does it make that it says OD instead of "Your solenoid is failing"? Take the advice, get it checked, and it's not fluid level - it's an internal failure or program failure.
nvbanker is right, the OD light is an indicator to let you know that something is wrong in the transmission. You have to get the get the diagnostic codes read from the computer to see where the problem lies. It could possibly be a number of different things.
Sbccruz2005 does not seem to know much about transmissions, not knowing the relationship of the Over Drive shift to the Solenoid. For your information, all the shifts in modern automatic transmissions are controlled by electric solenoids. The computer sends a signal to each solenoid to control each shift. There is a solenoid for every shift, the 1-2 solenoid, the 2-3 solenoid, the 3-4 solenoid, and the Torque Converter Lockup solenoid. Over Drive is 4th gear, so the 3-4 solenoid controls the shift into Over Drive. If the solenoid malfunctions, the shift will malfunction. Or if the hydraulic valves or circuits malfunction the shift will malfunction.
This is coming from a guy who has sucessfully rebuilt many automatic transmissions. I have worked as a mechanic for a Chrysler Dealer, an Amc Dealer, a Chevrolet Dealer and Ammco Transmissions. I have retired from that work now.
So bottom line is to heed the warning of the flashing OD light, it is doing it's job by telling you that something is wrong. Only be reading the computer codes can you know what the problem is. Any reputable transmission shop or dealer can read the codes and give you a diagnosis and an estimate.
Good Luck,
E.D. in Sunny Florida
I took it to get a diagnostic and it came up with 3 codes: the solenoid, the PCM or it could be the wiring. Well I ordered the solenoid had that put on and the light still came on so now we know it is in the wiring so that's next to check.
I have a '92 Explorer, 300k+ miles (no kidding). Pulling a trailer, engine overheated. Added water, got it back home. Added more water only to see steady leak coming out of an area on passenger side of engine below valve cover. No water in oil. Some steam coming out exhaust, hard to tell (I live outside Houston, it's cold and humid) Any way to tell if it's a cracked head, blown gasket or cracked engine block without tearing into it? If so, what's the ballpark cost for do-it-myself repairs? Also, anybody ever tried this stuff called Steel Seal? Just saw it advertised on the internet $45 a qt. for repairing cracked heads, etc. "Money back guarantee" but I'm skeptical. Any assistance appreciated.
If it is leaking like you say, especially steam out the exhaust, it will need to come apart anyway to fix it. You might try some of that Cooling System sealer called Bars Leak Pelletized Sealer. I used it before with good results for 2 months. It is not a permanent fix, but it can get you by for a while until you can get ready to pull the head. That sealer you describe sounds a lot like that stuff they sell in a tube called JB Weld, costs about $4 or $5. I don't think it will be able to seal the leak if the coolant is leaking into the combustion chamber and out the exhaust. You would have to clean the area of the leak very well, then you might try the sealant. The worst it could do is not work. If it doesn't work, then it's time to pull the head.
Good Luck,
E.D. in Sunny Florida
Thanks for the confirmation reply, I was afraid of that. I do recall others using the Bars Leak Sealer years ago with good results too. Thanks again.
alman08 Posts: 28202 explorer xlt v8
has anyone changed spark plugs on his 02 to 05 v8 explorers yet? mine has 100400 miles on it, wanted to have the plugs changed but dealer quoting $450. the plugs are coiled over...
m1ashooter Posts: 2How hard is it and what do you have to do to replace burnt out dash lights in a 97 explorer.
Not 100% sure on the Explorer, but on most modern cars, your dash lights are diodes integrated into your circuit board, and can't be replaced. You just by the circuit board and put the whole thing in. $250 is usually the cost for the board. I'd drive with a flashlight taped to my steering wheel pointed at the dash before I'd tackle the change out.....but that's just me... :shades:
You have to remove the instrument cluster. It has replaceable light bulbs on the back side.
daryll44 Posts: 307My wife and I noticed that our 2003 Mountaineer V8 seems to have gotten very loud. It's hard to tell what's going on, if anything....perhaps it's just getting older....it was purchased in September 2002 and now has 68,000 miles on it.
The tires are Michelin MS LTX and have about half the tread left (maybe even less). Could it be the worn tires that got louder? I looked for exhaust leaks but could find none on a casual inspection. Any ideas would be appreciated.
Getting old in itself does not make the vehicle louder. An old vehicle can run, drive and sound like a new one, if properly cared for. Does it sound louder when rolling down the road, compared to when the vehicle is stopped.? Does the sound change with road speed? If so, it could be the tires. Do the tires ride smooth? Have the tires been balanced lately? Has the front end alignment been checked lately? A good thing to keep in the glove compartment is a tire tread depth guage, available at any auto parts store for about $4 or $5. Keep it next to your tire pressure gauge. You can use it to measure how much Tread is left on the tire, measured in 32nds of an inch. When you measure at several points around the tire and also on the inside and outside portions of the tread, you can see how evenly or unevenly the tire is wearing, If you compare one tires measurements against another, you can see how evenly or unevenly they compare to each other. What kind of sound do you hear, kind of a light roaring, groaning, whistling, or rumbling? Rolling noise can also come from the drivetrain, wheel bearings, ect.
Does it sound louder when stopped with the engine running? Does the sound change with engine speed? Have someone stand beside the vehicle in Park and "Blip" the gas peddel once in a while, and see if the person outside can hear any exhaust sounds as they walk around the vehicle. Exhaust sounds can be deceiving, they can sound like a roar if a big leak, but small leaks can sound like small discharges, whooses or even clicking type noises.
Good Luck,
E.D. in Sunny Florida
I have the same half lit dashboard problem on my 1995 Explorer XL I'm sure one or 2 bulbs are burnt out but I don't know how to get the dashboard apart.
For a 1997 Ford Explorer, a 1995 may be similar:
It is a pain to do this. Lots of screws amd lots of plastic to carefully and patiently bend and remove.
1. Remove the lower plastic panel under the steering wheel, it has 2 screws from underneath on each side, and 2 screws to remove on the hood release. Once the screws are out on the bottom, grab the panel at the top corners and pull it straight back towards the rear of the vehicle. It will come off, but notice it has 2 "prong" fasteners, one on each side. Take a good look an them to see how they come apart and go back together, because you will see more of these. Set the lower plastic cover and screws aside.
2. The plastic cover that surounds the radio and air condtioner control comes loose next, It has 2 screws that are located below the radio, they screw upwards. Remove the 2 screws and then pull the cover along with the radio and a/c control out from the dash a bit. Carefully try to move it out from the dash as far as you can without unpluging anything, maybe an inch or two. You will need all the slack that you can get.
3. The plastic cover above the steering wheel comes off next. It surrounds the instrument cluster. It has 2 screws at the bottom, and 3 screws right above the instrument cluster, that screw upward. Remove all the screws, and pull the panel outward, pulling at the top corners, as each top corner has a "Prong" fastener that pulls out of the dash support. This part takes a lot of patience and "fanagling" to get it out. If you have a tilting steering wheel, you will have to angle it down. You will have to lower the gearshift lever down. The Panel will have the headlight switch and the dash dimmer module with wiring on the left side that will REMAIN connected. You must try to carefully wiggle the cover out to clear the dash and raise the right side up and rotate it to the left side.
4. Once the panel is out and swung to the left side, and safely hanging by the headlight switch wires, you will see 4 screws that hold the instrument cluster in, two on each side, top and bottom. Remove the 4 screws and carefully pull the instrument cluster part way out. It has 3 electrical plug connectors on the back that are very hard to reach. They must be unpluged if you need to remove the instument cluster. You may not have to completely remove the Instrument Cluster, as I was able to reach behind mine and change a light bulb, leaving the electric plugs untouched. The light bulbs are special made to screw onto the printed circuit board, they twist and turn to come out, and go back in the same way. Be careful to not damage the printed circuit board. Once the bulbs are replaced, be sure to turn on the dash lights and test them to be sure that they work, before fastening the Instrument Cluster back in place.
5. Once the panel lights are working ok, put everything back together in reverse order of dissassembly and test them again.
For the moderator, I have never seen any pictures in these messeges. Is there a way to post pictures in these messeges or to attach them some way? It would make explaining things a lot easier.
Good Luck,
E.D. in Sunny Florida
Wow. Thanks E.D. I'm not sure I want to tackle that. This is what I found on WikiAnswers:
Q. How do you replace the lights in the dash of 1991 through 2001 Ford Explorer all models?
Remove the screws from the top of the instrument panel. Set the parking brake and pull the shift lever down to improve access. Rotate the instrument panel to gain access to the back. The black bulb holders house the panel lights, the tan bulb holders house the sensor lights. Reach behind and grip the back of one of the holders. Twist it counter clockwise and pull outwards. Burned out bulbs will have a black coating. Replace with an identical bulb (194).
I didn't think it could be that easy. What are they talking about?
Thanks again,
Jim from Sunny and COLD Colorado


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Former New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison told ESPN Chicago Radio 1000 that Pats TE Rob Gronkowski "disrespected himself" by dancing and taking off his shirt at the team's postgame party following a 21-17 loss to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLVI.
"I guarantee you this, if Willie McGinest, Tedy Bruschi, Larry Izzo, Richard Seymour or myself had been at the party, (Gronkowski) probably would have got his head rung," said Harrison. "There's no reason for that to happen."
Harrison admitted during the interview that he has not seen the video or photos of the incident.
Harrison, who serves as an NBC football analyst, lost two Super Bowls in his career—one with the San Diego Chargers in 1995 and one with the New England Patriots in 2008.
"When we lost the Super Bowl, any of my Super Bowl losses, I was so devastated the last thing I ever wanted to do was party, let alone dance or take off your shirt," Harrison said. "It's just immaturity. It's not right. He made a mistake and I'm sure he feels absolutely stupid about it at this point. There's a time and place for everything."
Harrison said New England's veteran leadership should have ensured such behavior did not take place. Veteran offensive lineman Matt Light was reportedly photographed with his shirt off, which "surprised" Harrison.
"The leadership has to step up and someone has to pull (Gronkowski) to the side and say, 'Look young man, this is inappropriate, this is not the time nor the place. You need to grow up,' " Harrison said. "And that's what it comes down to. I like this kid. I think he's a good kid, works hard, is unselfish. But he made a mistake."
Not many details are known about the Patriots' post-Super Bowl party. It was held under a tent on the outfield grass at Victory Field, the home of a minor league baseball team, and the team has not commented on the pictures and video that have emerged, according to ESPNBoston.com.
Half of the team was in attendance for the party, according to the Boston Herald. However, that group did not include Tom Brady, Wes Welker or coach Bill Belichick, according to the newspaper.


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1. Represent
2. As I Flow On
3. We Got da Gats
4. I Can Do Dat
5. Don't Stress Me
6. Real Mack
7. Boom Wha Dat
8. Blast a New Asshole
9. Slinging Bass
10. Wet 'Em Up
11. Dead Men Don't Talk
12. Take It from da Top
13. Time to Die
14. Low Key
15. Shout Outs
16. Represent [The Grinch & Hill Remix]
Grand Daddy I.U. – Lead Pipe: In Which Polarity Recycles An Old Review He Had to Write to Pass College…
If you've perused the used hip hop section of your local record store recently, there's a high chance you've seen a copy of Lead Pipe (or maybe even a few copies) sitting there gathering dust. Albums with such a ubiquitous presence in the second hand racks can generally be thrown onto one of two piles. In the first are the overlooked gems that have never gotten their due respect (Brand Nubian's Foundation, for instance). In the second, the junk which surely no sane listener could ever want polluting their music collection (atrocious kiddie Miami Bass rappers The Puppies anyone?) So where in the spectrum does Lead Pipe fall?
Grand Daddy I.U. was one of the last members of the Juice Crew / Cold Chillin' empire to release an album, dropping the superb Biz Markie-produced Smooth Assassin in 1990. For whatever reason, his sophomore effort Lead Pipe didn't come out until four years later, by which time the laid-back suit-wearing pimp attitude that personified Smooth Assassin had been succeeded by rowdy thugs rocking jeans, hoodies and Timberlands.
In an attempt to compete with the Black Moons, Onyxes, Biggies and Wu Tang Clans running the east coast scene in 1994, Daddy completely switched up his steez. Whereas on his debut he was dappered in silk suits and lyrically outmacking contemporaries such as Big Daddy Kane and King Sun, here he's tipping back forty ounces, swinging the eponymous lead pipe (with his name painted on it!) and cooking up creative song titles such as 'We Got Da Gats' and 'Represent'.
The success of Grand Daddy's attempts at mid-nineties style ruggedness are mixed. The aforementioned 'Represent' features a predictably shouty hook before the beat (self-produced, like the majority of the album) breaks down to a smoother horn-tinged instrumental that is well suited to I.U.'s vocal tone. Unfortunately, lyrics such as 'The only remains is blood stains, spilt brains and broke bones / You step in my face with the gauge you get smoked homes' are far from convincing, especially when followed by thoroughly preposterous lines like 'My skills are nastier than a fart after eatin' a raw egg' (?!)
On the record's nadir 'We Got Da Gats', Daddy does his 'best' impersonation of Onyx, switching his voice and pulling overused lyrics like 'I smoke so many niggas my gun got cancer' out of his cliché cache. 'Dead Men Don't Talk', meanwhile, is memorable only for biting both Kool G Rap and Das EFX in a single verse.
Lead Pipe does have its moments though, and occasionally recaptures the magic of Smooth Assassin. 'As I Flow On', 'Don't Stress Me' and 'Da Real Mack' are all smooth jams that veer just on the right side of cheesiness as I.U. flexes his 'vocal tone that's smooth just like Barry White'. The contrast of songs like these against junk like 'We Got Da Gats' and 'Slinging Bass' just goes to highlight the shortcomings of the majority of the album.
The only skippable song on Smooth Assassin was 'Gals Dem So Hot' an ill-advised attempt at ragga. I guess no-one told I.U. his singing sucks, because Lead Pipe features not one but two similarly wretched Jamaican crossovers, 'Boom Wha Dat' and 'Time To Die' which further dilute the potency an already mediocre album.
In other words, there's a reason why 95% of the copies of Lead Pipe manufactured are dying a slow death in used music stores around the world. With the exception of a handful of tracks, this album sucks, and rightfully flopped commercially. I.U. kept a real low profile for the next 10 years, producing a couple of tracks on Heltah Skeltah's equally horrific sophomore slump Magnum Force in 1998 and not much else. However, despite the played-out title, his 'I Be Thuggin' b/w 'Mack of the Year' single released last year was a very fine return to form and is hopefully indicative of good things for the future.


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Hedengrens – A Stockholm classic: Hedengren's Bokhandel in Stureplan was founded in 1897 and has stocked English literature since the 1950s. The lower floor is dedicated to foreign languages, and the store has around 35,000 English titles on the shelves. Fiction, the humanities and languages are particular strengths and there is no particular bias to either British or US literature.
Location: Sturegallerian, Stureplan, Stockholm.
Mon-Fri 10am-7pm
Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 12pm-5pm
Phone: 08-611 51 32
Nordiska Kompaniet – The NK English Bookstore, located on the fourth floor of the venerable Stockholm department store, stocks a good range of fiction and reference books from across the English-speaking world, with plenty of British and US titles. The store hosts numerous book-signings, including an annual signing every December by the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Location: NK, 3rd floor, Hamngatan 18-20, Stockholm
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am-7pm
Sat 10am-6pm
Sun 12pm-5pm
Phone: +46 8 762 83 39
The English Bookshop – The Stockholm branch of the English Bookshop was founded in 2008 in Gamla Stan, in an attempt to replicate the success of its Uppsala sister store (below). The owners have created a similarly relaxed atmosphere to the original, with space to sit and browse through books before you buy.
Location: Lilla Nygatan 11, Gamla Stan, Stockholm.
Phone: +46 8 790 55 10
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am-6pm (closed for lunch)
Sat 11am-4pm
Alfa Antikvariat One of Stockholm's best-loved second hand bookstores, Alfa Antikvariat has a great selection of used English-language books in its basement. This quaint old store specializes mainly in fiction, although in the best traditions of second hand bookstores there are plenty of oddities and specialist books, from A Syntactic Study of Egyptian Colloquial Arabicto a first edition of the script for John Osborne's 1961 television play 'A Subject of Scandal and Concern.
Location: Drottninggatan 71a, Stockholm.
Phone: +46 8 21 42 75
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm
Sat 10am– 4pm
Clara Bookstore – This small independent bookstore in Gothenburg's picturesque Haga district was founded in 2000. Originally stocking books in a variety of languages, Clara Bookstore is now entirely dedicated to English-language books. Particular specialisms include Art and Design, Crime and Classic Novels as well as other strands of fiction. The store also stocks art posters and postcards, and is attracts a mixture of Swedes, tourists and foreigners living here.
Location: Haga Nygatan 3, Gothenburg
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 12pm-6pm
Saturday 11am-4pm
Phone: +46 31-339 17 65
Utbildningsstaden – As its name suggests, this bookstore is primarily aimed at Swedish teachers of English rather than casual readers. Nonetheless, it has an impressive selection of English-language books, with modern and classic novels, dictionaries, audio books and children's books well represented. The store, located next to the city's famous Feskekörka ('Fish Church') also takes online orders, although the website is entirely in Swedish.
Location: Rosenlundsgatan 3, Gothenburg
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm
Saturday 10.30am-3pm
Phone: +46 31-41 93 00
Hamrelius Bokhandel – Malmö's leading independent bookstore, Hamrelius has the city's best selection of English-language books. Art and design-related books are a particular speciality – and the store's gorgeous new premises reflect this – but this is also a good general bookstore, stocking everything from paperbacks to reference books.
Location: Södergatan 28, Malmö
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri 10am – 7pm
Sat 10am – 5pm
Sun 1pm – 5pm
Phone: +46 40 12 02 88
The Uppsala English Bookshop - Since it was founded in 1995, the Uppsala English Bookshop has become something of an institution in this university city. Regular book-signings and a monthly reading club attract a loyal crowd. Prices here are lower than in many English-language bookstores in Sweden, and new books are imported weekly from the US and UK. Visitors to the store, located by the Fyris River, are encouraged to relax in a comfy chair and browse through the 10,000 titles on display. The store's website offers an even wider selection of titles.
Location: S:t Olofsgatan 32, Uppsala
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri 10:30am – 6pm
Sat 11am – 3pm
Phone: +46 18 10 05 10www.ueb.se
Akademibokhandeln – Sweden's largest bookstore chain, Akademibokhandeln is part of the Swedish Cooperative Union (KF). The store on Mäster Samuelsgatan in central Stockholm is Scandinavian's largest bookshop. It stocks a decent range of English-language books, including plenty of novels. Many of the larger branches nationwide also have decent English selections. Call for more information.
Location: Mäster Samuelsgatan 28, Stockholm; branches nationwide.
Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 10am-7pm
Sat: 10am-5pm
Sun: 12pm-4pm
Phone: 08-402 11 00


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Period pieces are an art form that can be absolutely beautiful or an excruciating mess. There have been so many interesting historical events that have taken place in the world that filmmakers wish to put on the silver screen. While some are more captivating than others, the screenwriter must have a clear understanding of the material in order to make something that does the event justice. A Royal Affair is an excellent example of a motion picture that displays such a high amount of interest in its characters that it's nearly impossible to not become invested in the plot. If you're looking for a well-crafted historical drama, then you've found it.
Queen Caroline Mathilde (Alicia Vikander) may be young and beautiful, but she's miserable in this true story of Denmark's history. She's married to King Christian VII (Mikkel Boe Fřlsgaard), who's an insane and immature royal. The queen falls in love with Johann Friedrich Struensee (Mads Mikkelsen), who is the king's physician. Even though their political and individual ideals weren't popular in Denmark at the time, they started a revolution that changed the nation forever.
A Royal Affair tells a story full of love, hate, politics, and the Enlightenment. Rasmus Heisterberg and Nikolaj Arcel's screenplay has a lot going on, but it never gets messy. This is a roller coaster ride that's able to play with the emotions of its viewers. The three main characters are portrayed in such a genuinely human form, as they are never clearly protagonists or antagonists, but a mix of the two. Your opinions on the characters will continue to change throughout the story as they continue to develop. They're given such an incredible amount of attention, which really works to the feature's advantage. Heisterberg and Arcel have written some exceptional dialogue for these roles. Since that is the movie's primary focus, it could have easily become dull. Fortunately, this script is filled to the brim with intelligent dialogue. The conversations and ideas exchanged between Queen Caroline Mathilde and Johann Friedrich Struensee shine the brightest. It's fascinating to watch as some of the more modern philosophies were developed.
As well-written as this movie is, the pacing has its issues. There are times when the story stretches itself a little bit thin. Around fifteen to twenty minutes could have been cut in the editing room to make this drama run smoother. Regardless of the pacing problems, this movie will tap into your emotions, which can be a difficult feat for period pieces. By the end of the running time, we get to see the true colors of these historical figures when they're put under the stress of the climax. This was an incredibly dark time in Denmark's history that may be tragic, but it has sparked an entirely new way of living. A Royal Affair isn't only about the love that was kept secret between two individuals, but the movement it started. It's impressive how the writers managed to take a large story with such complex characters, succeed in making something of note, and make it look easy.
The three main characters have been cast to perfection. Alicia Vikander is captivating as Caroline Mathilde. She's able to express the incredible amount of depth in her character. When she's with the king, she appears to be depressed, but when she's in the presence of Johann Friedrich Struensee, she lights up without even having to utter a single word of dialogue. Mads Mikkelsen is just as wonderful in the role of Johann. He's extraordinarily believable and displays excellent chemistry with Vikander during the more personal scenes. Mikkel Boe Fřlsgaard fits perfectly in the role of King Christian VII. He's an immature coward, but there's a lot more to the character than one would initially think. All three of these performances are Oscar-worthy, as they truly bring this film full circle.
Even though A Royal Affair is dialogue-driven, it still has some breathtaking visuals. The costumes and the set designs are both absolutely outstanding. Each scene was extensively thought-out, which really paid off. There are small details in the costumes and the sets that make it feel like we're looking through a window in time and not just a silver screen. The score is suitable and captures the atmosphere of the motion picture very well. From start to finish, this is a beautifully shot movie with all the bells and whistles you'd hope to see in a moment frozen in time.
After getting the chance to see this historical drama, I can see why it has been announced as Denmark's official submission for the Best Foreign Film category at the Academy Awards. This well-crafted period piece definitely deserves to be a nominee for this upcoming award-season. It isn't perfect, as the pacing is a little bit bumpy at times, but it manages to do what many historical films fail to achieve. This piece of cinema is very engaging and well-told. There are numerous themes and multiple intricate characters, yet the filmmakers accomplished making a strong period piece that holds its focus very well. A Royal Affair is an elegant and impactful film. Highly recommended.


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By Vernon Felton
Fat bikes—they're either the coolest thing on earth or the dumbest trend to ever waddle its way through the back door of the party. Truth be told, not a whole lot of folks have acutally ridden a fat bike, but that hasn't stopped them from forming firm convictions on the greatness/lameness of fat bikes.
The folks at SRAM, however, are clearly erring on the "Yay!" side of the debate, as evidenced by the recent announcement that the company is now offering two new fat-friendly cranksets.
The fat bike-compatible X9 and X5-level cranks sport 100-millimeter wide spindles have dedicated 36/22 double chainrings. The wide spindle should eliminate the tire-on-chain rub that plagues many fat bikes. Price? You're looking at $169 for the X5 crank and GXP bottom bracket or $314 for the X9 crank and GXP bb.


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Local business franchiser wins national award for high standards
Thursday, Jul 24, 2014 10:38 am
Yousaf Khan, owner of the Mary Brown Famous Chicken & Taters�s location in Airdrie, has won the 2013 National Mary Brown�s Franchisee Award.
Khan was one of 17 nominees across Canada for the award. A six-person committee made up of the company�s administration, including president Nigel Beattie chose the winner based on a ranking of six criteria.
�The president came and he hugged me,� Khan said smiling. �He told me, �you deserve all this.��
The Airdrie restaurant, which is located in the Kingsview Market shopping centre, won after receiving near perfect scores in the quality of food, customer service, cleaning, community involvement, sales and by maintaining high standards for the restaurant ranked by the six-person committee.
�We use Alberta local chicken, we cut the chicken in the store and we use canola high-stability oil,� Khan said. �That leads to better quality food that supports Albertan farmers.�
Khan opened the Airdrie location in 2011 and said it was a slow start at first, but to help increase business while keeping cost down, Khan worked alone for the first six months.
�In the beginning of the first year, I did opening and closing,� Khan said. �I worked very hard at making sure that everything was top quality and there was great service.�
Khan, a father of two, has a five-year-old son, who requires extra assistance with his development. Even with the long hours Khan puts in at the restaurant, he still finds the time to take his son to the neurologist at the Alberta Children�s Hospital in Calgary three to four times a month. In June, Khan�s son graduated from the Inspiration Station pre-school and will be headed to the RJ Hawkey School in September.
The win is the first for any Mary Brown�s locations in Alberta.
Originally from Pakistan, Khan spent time in Dubai as an electrical engineer but moved to Airdrie in 2011, for a change of pace from the busy city of more than two million people.
�Airdrie is a great city,� Khan said. �You�re aren�t as rushed here. It�s a great, more relaxing place to live.�
Some of the community involvement Khan has been involved in through the restaurant in the past year includes sponsoring local youth hockey and ringette clubs such as the Airdrie Bantam Blackhawks, the Atom Attack and the Ring of Fire ringette organization, providing free food for first responders during the 2013 Alberta flood in Calgary, participating in fundraisers for the Airdrie Public Library and Muriel Clayton Middle School and donating food to Airdrie Meals on Wheels. Khan has also helped Living Springs � a Christian fellowship group that was travelling to Guatemala, Children�s Wish Foundation and by sponsoring Canadian athletes for the 2013 Special Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, South Korea.
�I love working with the community,� Khan said. �I try to keep all of the thank-you cards I receive.�
Khan said that he wouldn�t have been able to succeed without the help from his wife, Kishwer.
�She always encouraged me, never complained and helped out when I couldn�t with the kids,� Khan said.
�She even comes in to help me out at work.�
Eventually, Khan said he will take time to himself, but has some goals to accomplish first.
�For the next four to five years, I�m putting myself into this business,� Khan said. �Then maybe I�ll take some time for myself.�
The Airdrie location is currently ranked in the top 50 in sales in Canadian locations, but Khan said his target right now is to break the top 40. Currently there are 105 locations in Canada.
One area that Khan said would help his business reach the top 40 is a road connecting Kingsview Blvd. to the Kingsview Market.
�This is still fairly new here and my store is at the end,� Khan said. �Next year we should have a road that will connect us to the (Kingsview Blvd.), so I�ll be at the front.�


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Making Book
Writing and illustrating books for children was something that I always wanted to get to, but was just too busy with the next assignment. After the first ICON conference, with its strong emphasis on self-generated work, I was inspired to make the time; it opened up a whole new world for me. I also started having babies (by proxy) and was knee deep in bottles, diapers and ideas.
First, I dusted off a script I'd done at SVA about a little freaked out blue guy who was stuck in an all red painting. This became "Courage of the Blue Boy". I worked with the manuscript for a couple of years and dozens of drafts. It's rare that I do less than twenty drafts and four or five storyboards for any book...Blue Boy was an immigration story, a diversity story, an introduction to color book…it was complicated and very wordy. Then at the next ICON conference, I ran into Guy Billout (wasn't it great when we all lived in NYC and knew each other?) He asked me what I was working on and I mentioned a kid's book- he said, "What book? How does the story go?" So, there in a crowded hallway with people pushing around and between us, I laid out the essential story in thirty seconds. And that became the book. My editor at Tricycle Press, Summer Dawn Laurie, helped me shape it into the book it became.*
It wasn't my first book published - it was third. When I'd refined the manuscript yet again, I made a few dummies with hand-stitched bindings. I called my agent at the time, Justin Rucker from Shannon Associates, to show it around. Justin said, "Great! Why don't you write three more books so that I have something else to show if they don't like this one?"
Okay.... So I wrote Wow! City! and Beasty Bath, both of which got into print and a peek a boo book which, apparently, everybody and his dog had already done. Scholastic bought Beasty Bath, then Hyperion bought Wow! City! I still get complements on the brilliant writing even though it has about forty words and twenty of them are Wow! It is a picture book, after all... It won an ALA notable book award in 2004 and that's a big deal. My wife and I were talking about buying the woods out back in anticipation of the ocean of royalty checks that were sure to follow. Oh well, not so fast- librarians are one thing; the "Walter the Farting Dog" book buying public is another…. The great thing is that my books have continued to garner excellent reviews, with some raves and quite a few stars thrown in. I am working with Linda Pratt now, of the new Wernick and Pratt Agency (formerly with Sheldon Fogelman) who is a wonderful agent, advisor and confidant. I am also lucky enough to be working with some of the best editors in the business, including Donna Bray (Balzer & Bray, Harper Collins), Andrea Welch (Beach Lane Books, Simon & Shuster) and Rotem Moscovich at Hyperion (Disney).
Making picture books is a lot like being a painter. A book can be like a show of paintings, an idea illustrated by a cohesive set of images telling a story as a whole. You work diligently and steadily over many years to create a respected body of work and you learn, grow, and refine as you proceed. Unlike editorial work, at the end of the day, you're not done, it hasn't gone to press, and a project can preoccupy your mind for weeks and months. It takes a bit of mental discipline to detach sometimes...
At the end of the (last) day, you do have a nice product, a physical book- when I worked at the Times, we used to say "tomorrow it's fish wrap". Most of the thousands of magazine illustrations I've done over the years are gone wherever they go... there is a legacy of history recorded and the lingering thrill of the deadline and a job well done- something we all know, cherish and share- but a book is more permanent, and before long I notice that I've gathered a whole shelf of them. The public seems to hold book making in high regard also...it's funny, you work at Time Magazine, or Slate, or the New York Times for years and think that's pretty cool, but do just one book, and suddenly you're a bit of a rock star. I had a girl point me out this morning as a "Great Artist". High praise indeed coming from a six year old...
*For Blue Boy and most of the less recent books, please go to my Illoz site at neubecker.com (if you got a lot of hands on your time....)


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san anselmo
The Marin Municipal Water District will replace aging, leak-prone pipes and to improve firefighting capacity at Sunview and Bridge avenues. A total of 1,230 feet of new 6- and 8-inch welded steel pipe will replace 4- and 8-inch cast iron pipe. The old cast iron pipelines date to 1947 and 1939 and are prone to leaks and breaks.
All work is expected to be completed by mid July. Funding for the district's Fire Flow Improvement Program is provided by a $75 annual parcel fee. The fee has supported the investment of more than $74 million in fire flow and seismic-related improvements and the replacement of more than 66 miles of pipe throughout the district's service area, officials said.
Send us your news: We want more news items from Marin's cities and towns. Email them to our City Desk at email@example.com, mail them to City Desk, Marin Independent Journal, 4000 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903, or fax them to 415-382-7209. For more information about towns in Marin, visit the IJ's website at marinij.com.


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You know what, I never did understand why Paul Greengrass, with his shaky cam and cinema verite inclinations, would be directing a big-budget Hollywood fantasy movie like 20th Century Fox's "Fantastic Voyage". It just seemed so strange. As it turns out, ol Paulie may have thought the same thing, because he's now dropped out of the project and will instead concentrate on adapting another version of the Robert Louis Stevenson novel "Treasure Island" for "Sherlock Holmes" producer Lionel Wigram and Warner Bros.
Fox's "Fantastic Voyage" would have been a surefire hit for Greengrass, who after the disaster that was "Green Zone" could have certainly used a big-time movie. Besides the appealing premise of the film (scientists are shrunk and inserted into a dying VIP to save his life from within), the movie comes complete with the biggest name in Hollywood at the moment, James Cameron, who is producing the 3D movie.
Apparently Greengrass never signed on the dotted line to direct, and so he hasn't really "left" the project, as he was never "on" it in the first place. Now if only Fox can convince Cameron to direct, they can start printing money the next day after the official announcement.


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Artist description:
Java Draw Created Aug 19, 2010 640 x 460px Unless noted Copyright 2010 Sarru.
We encourage you to submit a comment and let the artist know what you think of this drawing. Please log in or join to post a comment.
Post a comment
Sorry,, but this is just to funny,,, I wished I could do this at times,,, but I could't get my leg up that high,,, love it,,, lololo
When I first saw this drawing I couldn't stop laughing - This drawing totally made my day :D lol, perfect drawing btw :)!
LOOOOOL. This made me laugh xD Great draw XD 5/5
LOL! awesome drawing!
Awesome job. The title says it all. Also awesome use of textures :)
Or you could just click on the scroll bar and drag it manually. =0
if u want to see that...download the firefox add-on "smooth wheel" and see by urself how it flashes ::D!!
yea it flashes while scrolling up and down :O!!! 5/5
Wow, you're so good at this...I envy you D= This looks so...perfect...And I don't believe in perfection ¬¬
lol.. it hurts -.-;; awsome draw ^_~


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Here at Review Centre we work hard to make sure we are the best place on the internet for honest, unbiased consumer reviews - we are grateful for your help in keeping us that way!
Written on: 13/01/2009
Its a good site. The site has a lot to offer mobile users. The site is too complicated and too difficult to navigate and find your choice.


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Embracing Obsolescence
The Low End Mac Media Center
- 2006.03.02
Snow storms and decrepit phone lines may have knocked me off course the last couple weeks, but now I'm back on track. Since Verizon finally repaired my phone lines, I may even be able to get DSL again.
Short story: I had DSL for almost a year before service evaporated into the ether and Verizon decided they didn't want to spend time fixing the aging phone lines. Fast forward four months to the present time. Since the problem began effecting my home telephone service and dialup connection (by the consequence of running along those same wires), Verizon was forced to repair the problem. Hence, my reason behind pondering a return to the world of DSL.
The Low End Mac Media Center
Nevertheless, it's time to revisit my media center project. Most of my computing revolves around email and light Web browsing. The writing I do can be accomplished with a simple text editor or the ancient (but thoroughly well developed) Nisus Compact.
I enjoy listening to music and occasionally watching television while I peck away at ye olde keyboard. Not wanting to have several pieces of equipment cluttering my work area - beyond my family of old Macs anyway - I decided dedicate one of my Macs for the sole purpose of entertainment.
But which Mac would prove the best tool to meet my multimedia demands. Ideally, it would have DVD playback, television tuning, and perhaps a remote control, all to accompany the more routine task of digital audio jukebox.
Performa 6400?
Except for DVD playback, my description could imply a leaning towards the Performa 6400. Yes, the very same Performa 6400 I have periodically mentioned in past columns.
Revealing my contrarian nature, I promptly arranged a trade sending the Performa 6400 across country in exchange for a PowerBook 1400c/133 and a grab bag of assorted Mac goodies.
Perhaps this decision seems incongruous to my goal of building a media center, but I want to assure the dedicated Low End Mac readership that this task was not decided on some bout of whimsy. Instead, I choose to believe this event transpired through clear-headed critical thinking.
The 6400 certainly has many features that seem ideally suited for media center duty. In no particular order: TV tuner with remote, FM antenna, audio/video/S-video inputs, a fast G3 processor upgrade, and an ATA bus for accepting cheap, fairly large hard drives (up to 128 GB).
But not all was rosy with the 6400, or I would have made do without the trade. In no particular order, my reasons for deciding against it include being limited to thousands of colors (unless a video card is added), the case is a bear to work with in comparison to the 7600's outstanding case design, and I have too many 7600 upgrade parts to ignore better flexibility and usability.
I was simply aghast that the Performa 6400/Power Mac 6500 design team could commit such egregious transgressions against us poor, hapless Mac users. I spend too much time fiddling with my computers to not appreciate an easy to access case design. Still, I did find the 6400/6500 case to be pleasing to the eye in a curvaceous, beige sort of way.
Power Mac 7600
Unbeknownst to me, the Power Mac 7600 was already upgraded with a G3 processor. Coupled with the amount of upgrades I already had for that family of Macs (RAM, PCI cards, hard drives, etc.) and the truly brilliant ease of use, I chose to part with my heavily upgraded Performa 6400.
Although I don't currently own any high capacity SCSI drives, I did get both my USB/FireWire card and 10/100 ethernet card functioning with the 7600. These upgrades should allow me to connect high capacity external drives to hold all my media files. Hopefully this will correct the one sore spot the 7200, 7500, 7600, 7300, 8500, 8600, 9500, 9600 model Macs all have - there is no cheap way to add high capacity hard drives without an ATA PCI card.
Having the ability to use two or more monitors with a minimum of fuss is another perk. In theory, I could have one monitor facing my relaxation area and another facing my work area, each displaying millions of colors with separate resolutions and desktops if need be.
Okay, enough fluff. I'm sure everyone who has made it this far is wondering how I went about assembling my Mac media center. I won't go into much detail today, but I'll provide an overview of topics for the rest of this series.
The Digital Jukebox
First, I decided to approach this project in segments. I needed to determine which aspects of the media center were most important to me. For instance, I tend to listen to audio much more than I watch television/videos or spend time gaming, because it requires the least amount of dedicated attention. As such, my next article will focus on digital audio jukebox functionality.
Setting up a digital audio jukebox requires several steps, which will be broken down as such:
- An overview of the different digital audio formats and the various digital audio software available for the classic Mac platform.
- My favorite ways of getting my physical music collection into digital form, included an overview of software and hardware.
- Sources of digital audio on the Web compatible with the classic Mac OS platform. I have a decent selection of places to find digital audio downloads (either paid or free, but all legal), but I'm not terribly familiar with the different sources of streaming audio on the Web, especially these days with dialup being my connection to the world. I'll need feedback from readers to fill out any information on online radio stations.
- How to connect your new Mac jukebox into other audio/media components.
While explaining each of those steps, I'll give examples of how I worked through setting up my own digital jukebox.
Okay, I apologize for declaring an end to the fluff while not adding anything terribly exciting, but I needed a teaser for the next series of articles.
Back to 680x0
I should mention before we part yet again, my intentions of getting back to more 68k Mac information. I know most Mac users are using shiny PowerPC or - gasp - Intel-powered Macs with their new-fangled OS X (or "OS eX", as non-Mac people tend to call it).
I continue to accomplish many important tasks by using simple 680x0 Macs from the bygone era of Sculley and Spindler. Please look forward to future articles featuring twin LC IIs powering a collaborative network environment, a PowerBook 520c used to monitor headless Linux and Mac devices, and how a free 1 MB word processor can be used to manage a project involving multiple documents scattered across multiple folders, drives, and networks.
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text: 04 FEBRUARY 2016 - BANGKOK, THAILAND: A worker dries freshly painted Chinese New Year calligraphy on a sidewalk in Bangkok's Chinatown district, before the celebration of the Lunar New Year. Chinese New Year, also called Lunar New Year or Tet (in Vietnamese communities) starts Monday February 8. The coming year will be the "Year of the Monkey." Thailand has the largest overseas Chinese population in the world; about 14 percent of Thais are of Chinese ancestry and some Chinese holidays, especially Chinese New Year, are widely celebrated in Thailand. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZAdd to Cart Add to Lightbox Download