Raunchy movies in running for Teen Choice Awards (Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) ? Raunchy comedy movies "Hangover 2" and "Bridesmaids" will compete alongside old favorites like "Twilight" and "Harry Potter" at the 2011 Teen Choice Awards, where 13-19 year-olds celebrate their hottest icons in film, music and television.

Vampire movie franchise "The Twilight Saga: Eclipse" led the Teen Choice nominations, announced on Wednesday, with 12 picks, including one for best sci-fi fantasy film, followed by TV musical comedy "Glee" with nine including for top TV comedy.

Drunken bachelor party romp "The Hangover Part II" earned six nominations, while "R"-rated comedies "Bridesmaids" got four and "Bad Teacher" scored three, including picks for its foul-mouthed star Cameron Diaz and co-star Justin Timberlake. "Bridesmaids" and "Bad Teacher" will compete for best comedy.

The nominations for those two comedies might seem odd to some because the movies' "R" rating in the United States means that teenagers under 17 years-old must be accompanied by an adult to attend the movies.

Yet, despite the restrictive rating, "The Hangover: Part II" and "Bridesmaids" have been among the top three movies at the North American box office this summer, proving their popularity among moviegoers.

Car racing flick "Fast Five" dominated the action category, while Johnny Depp got nominations for his roles in both "The Tourist" and "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides".

The music categories bring together nominees like Disney star Selena Gomez (six nods), teen idol Justin Bieber and country star Taylor Swift (six nominations) with Lady Gaga, Cee Lo Green, and The Black Eyed Peas.

The stars of MTV reality hit "Jersey Shore" feature heavily in the TV categories, alongside the Kardashian family, and the judges of music talent shows "American Idol" and newcomer "The Voice."

"Harry Potter" actors Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe will compete against perennial "Twilight" favorites Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and Taylor Lautner in the hotly-contested Liplock category, alongside Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis of ballet thriller "Black Swan".

The winners of the Teen Choice 2011 awards will be chosen online by fans aged 13-19, and presented with the traditional custom-made surfboard at a two-hour televised show on Fox television on August 7.

(Reporting by Jill Serjeant; Editing by Bob Tourtellotte)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/tv/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110629/tv_nm/us_teenchoice

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Woman charged for preacher kiss at gay pride event (Providence Journal)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/108204328?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Landslide link to 'mild tsunami'

Sailor Bob Brown said the tidal surge swept down the Yealm estuary near Plymouth, at "about four times the normal speed"

A "mild tsunami" along the South West coast was probably caused by an underwater landslide, a coastal expert has said.

The unusual tidal surge struck the Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Hampshire coastline on Monday morning.

There were reports of rivers changing direction, fish leaping out of water and hair standing on end due to static.

Dr Mark Davidson, from the University of Plymouth, said the surge was quite a "rare" occurrence.

The first reports of the event came from St Michael's Mount in Cornwall.

Boatman Dave Ladner said: "The funniest thing was on the causeway all the ladies' hair was standing on end with the static.

“...it was pouring over the causeway like a torrent”

Roland Stewart

"The sea on the eastern side was probably 8ins (20cm) to a 1ft (0.3m) higher than the rest and it was pouring over the causeway like a torrent rather than just a gentle meeting in the middle."

Roland Stewart from Millbrook, near Plymouth, said: "It was quite violent in a way, my dinghy was moving around with the movement of the water and I just wondered what the hell was going on.... within 15 minutes it was all over."

Amateur video footage shot on the Yealm estuary, to the east of Plymouth, shows the surge.

Bob Brown was launching his dinghy at the mouth of estuary at 1015 BST, an hour after low tide when he saw the wave.

He said: "The tide was coming in from left to right, all of a sudden it stopped coming in from the sea and went back the other way.

"It came back at quite a force, all the boats were bobbing around.

The sea at St Michael's Mount is normally "a gentle meeting in the middle" of the causeway

"To see a tide suddenly stop and go back the other way at four times the speed was unbelievable."

He said a local landowner told him the first thing he noticed was "lots and lots of fish jumping out of the water".

Dr Davidson, an associate professor in coastal processes, told BBC Spotlight: "[Surges] are quite rare and it's probably not a tidal phenomenon.

"It's probably more likely to be a tsunami of some kind, obviously it's quite mild.

"It's probably not due to an earthquake, which is the normal source.

"It's probably more likely to be a sub-marine landslide."

According to the Tidal Gauge Anomaly measure, which records the difference between the forecast tide and the actual tide, the anomaly on Monday morning in Newlyn, Cornwall was 0.2m (0.7ft), in Plymouth 0.3m (1ft) and in Portsmouth 0.4m (1.3ft).

The MET Office in Exeter said it did not think anything in the weather could have caused the change in the tidal pattern.

The British Geological Survey said there was no seismic activity in UK waters over the weekend.

This article is from the BBC News website. ? British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/uk-england-devon-13955321

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Health and Fitness Articles ? Blog Archive ? What's In Your Water ...

It would be nice if water were a lot more clear.

Bottled water businesses don?t disclose a lot about their water. That is the evidence presented in the recent Bottled Water Scorecard, released by the prominent third party public health organization, the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

Your mother and father always stated, ?You get what you pay for.? So if you pay good money for bottled water, you most likely expect top quality. Nonetheless, the Scorecard finds that in a lot of cases bottled water is no better ? or worse ? than a drink from your garden hose. The Scorecard also suggests a defieicency of information made accessible by bottled water offer. Namely, many brands don?t specify:

- Where their water originates.
- If their water is genuinely spring water ? or merely tap water ? in spite of the attractive labels with pictures of mountain streams.
- What testing ? if any ? have been run to find pollutants.

?Life is like a bottle of water, you never know what you?re gonna get.?

What Forrest Gump knows ? and you most likely don?t ? is that your personal local water supply is tightly governed. Your municipality is required to perform hundreds of tests annually on their tap water to ensure it meets the standards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for drinking water. And they must disclose the results.
You will find no such rules and regulations in the bottled water industry. In spite of what the high costs may well lead you to assume. Bottled water companies don?t test and do not divulge, since they don?t have to.

The EWG did check bottled water. In tests starting in 2008, they sampled many different prominent bottled water brands, discovering a wide range of pollutants. Your favorite bottled water brands had been identified to contain:

- Disinfection byproducts
- Organic material, like vegetation
- Urban wastewater pollutants like pharmaceuticals and caffeine
- Heavy metals and minerals, including arsenic and radioactive isotopes
- Fertilizer residue, including ammonia
- A broad range of other pollutants, such as achievable carcinogens.

Those contaminants had been within the water before it went into the bottle. Don?t even get us started on what happens to the water while it is within the bottle.

Still do not like the taste of tap water? Or still worried about it? Filter it.

Tap water is tepid and usually tastes, well, bad. (That taste is caused mostly by chlorine and minerals). Regardless of the belief that bottled water is generally greater quality, bad publicity about our public water supply turns a lot of of us off to tap water.
If you?re one of those individuals, and if you are outraged at the misconceptions perpetuated by bottled water organizations, why not try bottleless water coolers? These coolers ? also called filtered water coolers or POU (Point of Use) coolers ? detoxify water straight from your tap.

The evidence is in. Pass on bottled water. Give some thought to bottleless coolers, and check out the EWG?s scorecard.

Tags: health, Health and Fitness

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 at 6:09 am and is filed under Health and Fitness. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.healthandfitnessarticlesblog.com/whats-in-your-water-bottles/

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The Cue Radio Model r1

Most iPod dock sound systems focus on the fact that they're made for iOS devices. They emphasize the "dock" feature, and anything else it can do or support is secondary. Cue Acoustics goes in another direction: Instead of a speaker dock that happens to have features like AM/FM radio, the Cue Radio Model r1 ($399 direct) is a radio-equipped sound system that happens to have an iPod/iPhone dock. However you spin it, though, this one-piece bookshelf sound system sounds very good?just not quite good enough to justify its price.

Design
The Cue Radio's design is elegant and simple, with a rounded, smooth design available in white or black, and few controls. The front of the radio is separated into thirds: two thirds hold the radio's monochrome, backlit LCD display and three control knobs against the smooth shell of the device. The other third is a mesh grille covering the radio's Cue cs1 speaker, a single, stacked 50-watt bi-amplified woofer/tweeter assembly that pumps out the radio's sound. The back of the radio holds connections for the power cable, AM and FM antennae, auxiliary audio inputs, and the optional Cue Speaker Model s1 ($99.99, 3 stars), which can be connected to turn the Cue Radio r1 from a mono speaker into a true stereo sound system. There's also an Ethernet port, but that's only for servicing Internet radio.

The controls are simple, but an odd design choice makes using the Cue Radio r1 more awkward than it ought to be. The large knob controls radio tuning and menu navigation, while the smaller knobs control mode selection and volume levels. In iPod mode, the large button functions as a click wheel, with four touch-sensitive buttons lighting up around it. Each knob can be pressed in to act as a button, but it's not always obvious what that button will do. For instance, pressing the volume knob turns the radio on and off instead of simply muting the volume, forcing the user to wait a few seconds for the device to reboot before listening again.

Fortunately, an included, card-sized membrane remote offers remote control of any attached iOS devices, plus a dedicated mute button, on top of the standard radio controls. The remote is a slightly easier way to adjust settings on the Cue Radio, and to set its optional twin alarms.

Performance
Considering the device has essentially only a single speaker, the Cue Radio r1 sounds very good. It gets both remarkably loud and remarkably clear, especially in the midrange. Led Zeppelin's "Communication Breakdown" sounded great for a single-speaker system, with both Plant's vocals and Page's guitar sounding crisp and clear without being overly bright.

The Cue Radio r1's one major sonic flaw is that its processing limits and tweaks the bass notes, so that low end lacks much punch or true clarity. Our heavy-bass test track, The Knife's "Silent Shout," didn't accurately reproduce deep bass through the Cue, and it also lacked the deep thump that a $400 system should produce. The Altec Lansing Octiv 650 ($199.95, 4 stars) features a built-in subwoofer that can put out stronger bass for half the price. On the even higher side of the price range, the Editors' Choice Beatbox by Dr. Dre from Monster ($449.95, 4 stars) and the Bowers & Wilikins Zeppelin Air ($599.95, 4 stars) offer true stereo sound, excellent bass, and Apple AirPlay support, for an admittedly steep premium. Sitting between the two, the Cue Radio's relatively weak bass is a disappointment.

While the Cue Radio includes an antenna with a 3.5mm connector for use with the AM radio, it doesn't come with an antenna for the FM radio's coaxial connector. Fortunately, it didn't need any external antenna to tune into a handful of radio stations in the New York area. (The power cable doubles as the antenna, making the coaxial connector seem unnecessary; an additional digital input would have been more useful.) Rock, jazz, and talk radio stations came through clearly, even in the Wi-Fi radio swamp of the PCMag Labs.

At heart, the Cue Radio is still just a one-speaker device. Because of this, it suffers in audio imaging. While it can fill a room with sound, it can't fill a room with a good sense of sound, lacking the presence a second speaker would offer. Fortunately, Cue Acoustics offers the Cue Speaker Model s1, a dedicated accessory that turns the Cue Radio into a true stereo bookshelf sound system. Check out our review for the full details, but basically it offers an identically-sized and identically-powered speaker that can be placed up to 10 feet away thanks to an included 8-pin cable. It adds depth to the Cue Radio's otherwise excellent sound, but also adds $100 to its price tag.

Considering it only has a single "speaker," the Cue Radio r1 puts out very nice sound. It doesn't get quite as loud or full as other, larger iPod docks, but considering its full feature set, it's a solid, albeit expensive choice for a bookshelf sound system. If you want to give it power and fullness, you need to grab the optional Cue Speaker s1 to really round out its sound. For far better audio, spend the extra $50 and pick up the Beatbox by Dr. Dre from Monster.

Compare the Cue Radio r1 to other similar speakers.

More Speaker reviews:
??? The Cue Speaker Model s1
??? The Cue Radio Model r1
??? Soundmatters Foxl v2 Bluetooth
??? iLuv iMM288 Stereo Speaker Dock for iPhone and iPod
??? Cambridge SoundWorks MicroWorks II
?? more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/Hcmkl4DgAaA/0,2817,2385840,00.asp

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Regulator signs off on threatened nuclear plant (Reuters)

BROWNVILLE, Neb (Reuters) ? A top regulator said on Sunday that a nuclear power plant threatened by flooding from the swollen Missouri River was operating safely and according to standards.

"I got to see a lot of efforts they're taking to deal with flooding and the challenges that presents," Gregory Jaczko, the chairman of the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said after touring the Cooper Nuclear Station near the village of Brownville and meeting with plant officials and executives.

"Right now, we think they're taking an appropriate approach. This is a plant that is operating safely and meeting our standards," he added.

The plant is located about 80 miles south of Omaha, where snow melt and heavy rains have forced the waters of the Missouri River over its banks, although they have not flooded the plant and receded slightly on Sunday.

Jaczko said he was not doing an official plant inspection. He was briefed by NRC resident inspectors -- the agency staff who work on-site every day -- plant officials and executives, said Mark Becker, a spokesman at the Nebraska Public Power District, the agency that runs the plant.

The power plant sat about 4 feet above the river's level on Sunday. The river had surged over its banks near the plant and filled in low-lying land near the Cooper plant.

Water levels there are down after upstream levees failed, Becker said, relieving worries that water will rise around the Brownville plant as it has at another nuclear plant north of Omaha in Fort Calhoun.

Art Zaremba, director of nuclear safety at Cooper, backed the assessment.

"The plant is very safe right now, and we've taken a lot of steps to make sure it stays that way," Zaremba said.

Residents near the plant were largely unconcerned about any potential safety risks from flooding ahead of Jaczko's visit.

"I just don't think the water is going to get that high," said Brownville resident Kenny Lippold, a retired carpenter who has been following each step of the flood preparations in this riverside village of 148 residents.

"They claim that they are going to keep operating," Lippold said, adding that he will not flee his home of 29 years even though it is less than a mile from the Cooper reactor.

Local shop owner Katy Morgan, 28, said her fears have been assuaged by information she has received via plant officials, who give out emergency radio equipment to residents within a 10-mile radius of the Cooper plant.

"I know everybody freaks out when they talk about nuclear," said Morton, who runs a boutique on Brownville's main thoroughfare. "I suppose if there was a drastic increase in the river I would be concerned. If they say 'evacuate' then I would be concerned," Morton said.

Jaczko will visit on Monday the Fort Calhoun plant in the town of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, about 20 miles north of Omaha, an agency official said.

Flood water up to 2-feet deep is standing on the site of the 478-megawatt Fort Calhoun plant, which will stay shut down until the water recedes, the NRC said.

On Sunday afternoon, workers accidentally deflated an auxiliary berm at the plant, said Omaha Public Power District spokesman Jeff Hanson.

Hanson said the "aqua dam" was a supplemental measure that provided workers "more freedom" but was not essential to keeping the plant dry.

"The plant itself is still protected," Hanson said. Floodwater would need to rise over 7 feet to flow over the berms and enter the plant, Hanson said, adding that the supplemental dam was not in original flood prevention plans.

An NRC inspection at Fort Calhoun two years ago indicated deficiencies in the flood preparation area, which have now been remedied, the agency said.

(Writing by Eric Johnson; Editing by Tim Gaynor)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/environment/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110627/ts_nm/us_usa_nuclear_plant

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The Engadget Show - 022: Gadgets get smashed, Rick Karr talks broadband, Peter Rojas and Ryan Block tell us what moved them

The Engadget Show is back! Last time it was gaming, this time we go for something with a bit more variety. The show starts with Tim and Brian taking a quick look over some of the month's biggest gadgets, like the Samsung Chromebook Series 5, the HTC EVO 3D, and a pair of new readers: the Barnes & Noble Nook WiFi and the Kobo eReader Touch Edition.

After that it's sledgehammer time, where Brian and Terrence work through some pent-up frustrations by beating the silicon out of a series of durable gadgets, all captured in delicious slow motion. Some survived, some did not. Then, we all learn a lesson as Rick Karr stops by to talk about the (sorry) state of US broadband compared to the rest of the world.

Next, we take it to the streets to ask you what your most important gadgets are before being joined in the studio by the Engadget founder Peter Rojas and Editor Emeritus Ryan Block, the duo behind GDGT, to talk about the gadgets that most affected them in their time at the site and beyond, also taking some questions from eager audience members about, well, gadgety things. Finally, we all get carried deep into the aural environment of Chrome Canyon.

It's a tech-heavy, action-packed show this week that you won't want to miss. So what are you waiting for? Watch it now! The video stream is above, or download the show in HD below!

Gallery: Engadget Show 022

Hosts: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater
Special guests: Terrence O'Brien, Rick Karr, Peter Rojas, Ryan Block
Producer: Guy Streit
Director: Michelle Stahl
Executive Producers: Joshua Fruhlinger and Michael Rubens
Music and visuals by: Chrome Canyon

Taped live at AOL Studios

Download the Show: The Engadget Show - 022 (HD) / The Engadget Show - 022 (iPod / iPhone / Zune formatted) / The Engadget Show - 022 (Small)

Subscribe to the Show:

[iTunes] Subscribe to the Show directly in iTunes (MP4).
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The Engadget Show - 022: Gadgets get smashed, Rick Karr talks broadband, Peter Rojas and Ryan Block tell us what moved them originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:19:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/the-engadget-show-022-gadgets-get-smashed-rick-karr-talks-br/

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How is the market in Marina Del Rey & The Strand areas of Los ...

Marina Del Rey

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90-day stats for Single Family properties in MARINA DEL REY, CA as of June 17, 2011
Median List Price:	$1,855,000	Average List Price:	$2,000,963
Total Inventory:	33	Price per Square Foot:	$525
Average Home Size:	3,578	Median Lot Size:	3,133
Average # Beds:	3.72	Average # Baths:	3.77
Homes Absorbed:	2	Newly Listed:	2
Days on Market:	139	Average Age:	29

90-day stats for Condo properties in MARINA DEL REY, CA as of June 17, 2011
Median List Price:	$718,423	Average List Price:	$925,771
Total Inventory:	182	Price per Square Foot:	$425
Average Home Size:	1,723	Median Lot Size:	n/a
Average # Beds:	2.17	Average # Baths:	2.35
Homes Absorbed:	9	Newly Listed:	12
Days on Market:	193	Average Age:	22

Source: http://www.christophechoo.com/market-marina-del-rey-strand-areas-los-angeles-california-90292-market-update-90day-market-update-statistics-homes-condominiums-sale-sold-marina-del-rey-california-90292-median-price-inventory-11/

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Angels spoil Davey Johnson's debut as Nats manager (AP)

ANAHEIM, Calif. ? Maicer Izturis hit a bases-loaded single in the 10th inning and the Los Angeles Angels beat Washington 4-3 on Monday night, spoiling Davey Johnson's debut as Nationals manager.

Sean Burnett (3-4) gave up a one-out single to Alberto Callaspo and a ground-rule double by Peter Bourjos ? his fourth hit of the game. An intentional walk to Bobby Wilson set the stage for Izturis, who grounded a 1-0 pitch through the middle.

Scott Downs (5-2) got the victory with a hitless inning.

The Angels were one out from a clean getaway in the ninth when closer Jordan Walden gave up a first-pitch homer to Danny Espinosa ? the rookie's third straight blown save and sixth in 23 chances overall.

Espinosa's drive into the lower seats in the right-field corner was his 15th home run, the most among major league rookies.

Johnson, who began his new job four days after Jim Riggleman's abrupt resignation, is managing his fifth big league club at age 68 after stints with the Mets (1984-90), Reds (1993-95), Orioles (1996-97) and Dodgers (1999-2000). He took over a 40-38 team that entered Monday 8 1/2 games out of first place in the NL East and had won 13 of 15 ? including a three-game series at the Chicago White Sox in which the Nats took two of three under interim skipper John McLaren.

Los Angeles got its leadoff man on in five of the first six innings and snapped a 2-all tie in the sixth, as Wilson grounded a two-out single through the left side to drive in Callaspo and chase starter John Lannan. Ryan Matthews came in and walked Izturis on four pitches before retiring Erick Aybar on a soft line drive to shortstop with the bases loaded.

Ervin Santana allowed two runs and five hits with five strikeouts. The Angels right-hander, who has allowed nine home runs over his last six starts, served up leadoff homers by Michael Morse and Ryan Zimmerman in the second and fourth innings, respectively.

The Angels tied it in their half of the fourth with two-out RBI singles by Callaspo and Bourjos. Callaspo's hit got him out of a 2-for-34 rut. He finished 3 for 5.

Lannan allowed three runs and 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings, after going 3-0 with a 1.18 ERA over his previous six starts.

Angels right fielder Torii Hunter didn't start for the fourth straight game because of bruised ribs, but came in for defense in the eighth inning. He ended up batting in the 10th, swung late at a pitch from Burnett and hit a vicious shot into the corner of the Washington dugout that almost took out Johnson ? who had a relieved grin on his face seconds later.

NOTES: Johnson lost his first game with the Mets and Reds, and won his first game with the Orioles and Dodgers. ... Teams managed by Johnson are 19-17 against clubs managed by Mike Scioscia. ... Scioscia was managing the Dodgers' Triple-A team in 1999 when the organization hired Johnson to take over the big club. Bill Russell, whom Johnson replaced as Dodgers manager, attended Monday's game in his current job as one of 11 umpire observers employed by Major League Baseball to evaluate their performance. ... Scioscia was a catcher with the Dodgers when he helped them upset Johnson's Mets in the 1988 NL championship series with a clutch home run off Dwight Gooden. ... Nationals RHP Chien-Ming Wang pitched three innings in his first rehab start for Class-A Hagerstown, allowing two runs, four hits and no walks with three strikeouts. He is working his way back from shoulder surgery in July 2009, and July 4 will mark two years since he last pitched in the majors with the Yankees. ... Zimmerman is 11 for 58 with two homers and seven RBIs in 13 games since coming off the disabled list. He missed 58 games because of a left abdominal tear. ... Morse came in averaging a home run every 16.2 at-bats, and an RBI every five at-bats. ... A ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Anaheim Ducks right wing Corey Perry, who last week won the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/sports/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110628/ap_on_sp_ba_ga_su/bbo_nationals_angels

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Stories by American Authors, Volume 1This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. Serif PagePlus X5Boost your business, organization or club with professional-quality advertising, sophisticated print designs and electronic documents from PagePlus X5... Read More > Book Business: Publishing Past, Present, and Future

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Publish on Amazon Kindle with Kindle Direct PublishingA free guide to publishing your book on Kindle with Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP). KDP is a fast and easy self-publishing tool that lets any... Read More > If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader. Tagged as: Venture Capital (Asia) IMMEDIATE available for projects! Leave a comment

Source: http://pivc.net/2011/06/25/venture-capital-asia-immediate-available-for-projects/

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Texarkana Entertainment Blog ? Blog Archive ? Local art: Saturday ...

Saturday morning there will be a reception for the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council?s 23rd Annual Adult Regional Juried Exhibition with a ceremony and announcement of winners ?round noon. Like local art? Check it out and meet some local artists.

I visited the gallery space today and enjoyed much of the work. There are great pieces by familiar faces like Cindy Holmes, Carol Flori, Polly Cook, Nicole Brisco and others, plus some new artists in there, as well. At just under 50 works displayed on the first and second floors at the Regional Arts Center, it?s a little scaled back from other regional juried shows I have seen at the RAC, but there is great depth and quality to be found. For one thing, I?m always amazed at the quality of light in Carol Flori?s pieces. We?ll have an advance story next week; if you like local art, you should get down and see the exhibit. It?s there until Aug. 20.

- Aaron Brand

Popularity: 1% [?]

Source: http://www.texarkanagazette.com/Entertainment-Blog/2011/06/24/local-art-saturday-reception-for-juried-show/

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Ultralight Hiking Gear, The No Tent Approach | International ...

Snow

Image b? cdulude

Article b? mike legg

Climbing ?nd backpacking h??? become ?n increasingly well l???d distraction, b?t ultralight backpacking, ?nd ultralight climbing h??? become a bit ?f a specialised art. Maintenance down th? weight ?f wh?t ??? ?r? carrying ?n ???r back, earnings th?t ??? ??n journey further ?n less time. Or ??? ??n journey ?t a more relaxing pace, giving ??? time t? take pleasure ?n ???r surroundings.

Ultralight climbing ?nd backpacking ?? really ?nl? apposite t? th? radiator era ?f year, such ?? late jump owing t? t? late summer. Th?? ?? b?????? th? l?rg??t weight saving w?ll b? ?n things l?k? ???r tent ?nd sleeping bag, wh??h ?r? ordinarily two ?f th? heaviest bits ?nd pieces ?n ???r backpack.

F?r instance ?? a substitution f?r ?f lugging nearly a heavy tent, ??? ???ld premeditated compelling a hooped Gore-Tex bivi bag. Th?? ?? ???t a small single bleeding tunnel tent. J??t generous sufficient f?r one self ?nd th??r gear ?t offers quite ????ll?nt protection fr?m th? elements, ?? ?t ?? both water-resistant ?nd breathable. It ??n b?t b? a bit claustrophobic, ?nd I everlastingly tend t? feel shut ?ff fr?m th? out-?f-doors, except I ?l??? th? door open.

A further alternative t? a tent ?? a lightweight tarp, ?r basha. Th??? ?r? very versatile, ?nd ???t w?th th? aid ?f ???r climbing poles ??n b? erected ?n innumerable ways. Used ?n conjunction w?th a water-resistant, breathable sleeping bag take ?n, th?? ?? ?n th?? area ?? light ?? ??? ??n g?t. If used ?n a privileged ?l??? away fr?m passionate winds, th?? give ??? a r?ght sense ?f sleeping ?n th? wilds. It ?? ?? q???k ?nd simple t? set up th?t ?t ??n even b? used f?r a shelter fr?m th? rain during th? day, ?r even ???t t? cook below.

One ?th?r alternative wh??h ?? enjoying something ?f a comeback ?? th? ????ll?nt ancient hammock. Th?? type ?f camping ?? ideal f?r th? ultralight backpacker wh? ?? more interested ?n th? actual climbing ?? apposed t? th? camping side ?f backpacking.Here ?r? ??m? brilliant hammocks ?n th? promote th?t come w?th th??r ?wn water-resistant gl?d? page, ?nd ?r? complete w?th mosquito- midge netting. If ??? ?r? b? one ?f th??? ??? don?t even need t? reside ?n a kip mat, ?? saving even more weight.

Th?? ?? ???t one area wh?r? ??? ??n ??t down th? weight b? b? ultralight climbing gear. B? b? similar bits ?nd pieces th?t ?r? available th??? days, such ?? lightweight sleeping bags, ?nd even ultralight climbing backpacks, ??? w?ll b? surprised ???t h?w light ??? ??n g?.

Starting t? g?t heavy ?nt? backpacking th?? year ?nd sought ?ft?r t? share ??m? ?f th? gear I now h???. I grew up ?n CT everlastingly before a live audience ?n th? woods ?nd I h??? a splendid l?k? ?f th? out-?f-doors. Now ?n FL I?m starting t? d? a lot ?f climbing ?nd 1-3 day backpack trips. B??n watching a bunch ?f th? ??? tube videos ?n climbing ?nd backpacking ?nd getting very inspired b? th? l?k?? ?f nutnfancy ?nd cr0cket20 ?nd ?? ?n. Delight share ?n? dreams ??? m?? h??? f?r th?? FL environment?thankfulness

Related posts:

1. Quality Gear
2. Importance Of Having The Best Hiking Backpacking Equipment
3. Backpacking Hiking ? Important Equipment To Have A Great Time
4. How to choose a hiking backpack
5. Hiking Backpack Tips: Reduce Backpack Weight For More Comfortable Hiking.

Source: http://www.wvpeace.com/ultralight-hiking-gear-the-no-tent-approach/

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Search Engine Optimisation Periodicals Gives Support In Order That ...

You don?t do domain name registration without first knowing what your website is about. You want to get that right the first time around. The wrong type of registration will look bad on you and your business, and you don?t want that. As important as your business is, so also should your domain name be, especially when you are considering doing lots of business online. Best Seo experts are experienced in choosing the best domains and you need to consult them before choosing one. It is also good if you will consult the Search Engine Marketing Companies in your town so that it can help you choose the best domains for your business

Search Engine Marketing Companies

You could get a private domain registration for your website, you know, instead of a public one. This simply means whether you want to have the details accessible and viewable by everyone or not. If yes, then it?s public, if not, then it?s private and this helps to hide your private information from prying eyes who go looking for the details of the owner of the domain name. Remember that the planning will play a vital role in running your firm. If you have any doubts regarding the domain that you have just read the advises of your friendly Search Engine Marketing Companies in your neighborhood because they are the ones experienced in that field.

Lots of domain companies now offer one discount or the other when buying and registering new domain names. It?s important to check if there?s a coupon or more available before you register your domain names with any domain registration company. I have found out that if you don?t ask, they won?t tell you. So, always take the time to ask them if they have any available coupon that will enable you save some money while registering your domains. Always be careful in your decisions so that you will have no regrets.
Selecting a domain name for your website is easy enough; finding one is the hard part. It really is not that big a world, even on the internet. A lot of people have similar ideas all the time, and many of them have migrated their businesses online earlier than you have. But if you use some of the good domain tools out there they can help you find the right domain name. Always ask for advise to get the most reliable domain services because you don?t want to experience failure.Be sure to get the best domain services and be guided by Search Engine Marketing Companies so that you will have a peace of mind.

Domain name registration is as important as choosing the name of your business. You need to have looked around to be sure no one else goes by that name or even any close to it. Domain name registration indeed requires also that you look around to determine that no one else has the same domain name or similar, so as not to have your traffic going to the wrong website. Simple. Remember that if you have made a mistake in getting the wrong domain name, it will be hard for you to correct this so be sure of the domain that you want to get. Make some study and read some search engine optimisation books in order to get tips and the best domain name for your firm.

Related posts:

1. Search Engine Optimisation Publications Offers Help So That You Will Acquire The Top Domain Names
2. Trading Domain Names Can Certainly Make You Money
3. Selling Or Buying Domain Names For Revenue
4. What To Do When All The Good Domain Names Are Not Available
5. Buying And Selling Internet Domain Names For Revenue

Tags: Search Engine Optimisation, periodicals, domain names, search engine optimisation periodicals gives support in order that you receive the most effective domain names

Source: http://www.internet-success-secrets.info/internet-marketing/online-business-promotion-and-marketing/search-engine-optimisation-periodicals-gives-support-in-order-that-you-receive-the-most-effective-domain-names/

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The Sonos Wireless Home Audio System Review | Gear Diary

If Apple were to release a wireless speaker system, it would probably look and function the way the Sonos Zone system does. Fortunately Cupertino doesn?t need to go to the trouble, since Sonos beat Apple to it ? and there isn?t a whole lot of room for improvement.

Sure, I understand that those opening sentences sound more than a bit fanboyish toward both Apple and Sonos, but hey, I love my Apple products; in the last month or so, I have also become a Sonos evangelist. How much do I like the Sonos system? Let me put it this way: I received a one month review system on Wednesday morning and immediately set it up. By Thursday at noon I had placed an order for my own system in order to ensure that there would not be a period of time when the system was not in my house. I like the Sonos system enough that I dropped the money I had been saving up for a home audio system on it within a day. I now have four rooms with Sonos sound, and I?m seriously considering adding a few more.

I like the Sonos system that much.

So I guess a review is pretty much unnecessary at this point, right? But review I shall, so read on to get a bit more insight into why this reviewer is now a Sonos-convert.

From Sonos:

The reason Sonos works so flawlessly all over the house is because we designed a complete multi-room music system from the ground up, one that?s as expandable as you?d like. And we made sure it all works together seamlessly and wirelessly. Which is why you can play the same song in every room with perfect synchronicity or simultaneously play different songs in different rooms. Of course, how many rooms of music you have is up to you ? start with one or fill the entire house by adding ZonePlayers wirelessly. That same spirit of flexibility applies to our Controllers. Use one or many to play your music. That?s the joy of multi-room music with Sonos.

If you love music, you?ll love Sonos: It?s as simple as that. Because only Sonos makes it so easy to add music to your life. In one room. Or many. Playing the music you own or endless songs and stations streaming from the internet. It?s a wireless multi-room music system unlike any other. One that sets up instantly and expands effortlessly. So, are you ready to experience Sonos?

Instant access to endless music: Sonos gives you a world of music at your fingertips ? from the Internet and your computer. Play all the songs stored on your PC or Mac. Tune in to thousands of free Internet radio stations. And enjoy millions of songs and stations from the most popular online music services.

Wireless that works like magic: Sonos takes wireless to a whole new level. Our mesh network technology provides whole-house coverage, ensures synchronous music playback, and avoids sources of wireless interference. Which means the music gets to all the right rooms ? near or far ? at exactly the right time.

A multi-room system that?s flawless, flexible and fun: At Sonos, multi-room music is our mantra. That?s why we created a system that flawlessly delivers synchronized music to every room and expands instantly without wires or hassles. So, whether you?ve got a one-room studio or a three-story house, Sonos makes it easy to fill your life with music.

Setup that?s out-of-the-box simple: Sonos was designed to work right out of the box ? no technical expertise required. All you need is a high-speed Internet connection and a router to get started. Then simply open the box, decide where you want music and enjoy.

Sonos has a clear mission: The company is out to make all the world?s music accessible, and they have made a good start on that. The Sonos system doesn?t actually have any music resident on it. Instead, the system streams music from a networked computer, an NAS (Network Storage Device), or from one of a myriad of services currently available. Sonos makes set-up and use of the system a breeze, but before we get to that, let?s take a look at the hardware the company offers.

Sonos has a relatively small number of device options, which is an Apple-esque move allowing them to focus on making a small number of devices the best they can, while also simplifying the shopping process. I don?t think this ?simplified shopping experience? should be overlooked. There are many home stereo systems available today with near infinite options, and it often becomes difficult to find the right combination and get everything working together. By limiting the choices available, Sonos helps ensure that everything is easy to set up and use and works without having to think too much about what you are doing. [Side note: the book The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less makes a good case for this approach, and explains there is a point of diminishing returns and heightened anxiety when we are faced with too many choices at one time.]

Sonos System Components

The S5

I suspect that for most people like me, the s5 is going to be the Sonos component of choice. The S5 is a five-speaker system that is both a speaker and an amplifier that connects to the rest of the Sonos system. It is fairly small, has clean lines and sounds? Awesome!

The S5 is a high-performance, all-in-one wireless music system that delivers crystal-clear, room-filling sound. Simply plug it in wherever you want music and enjoy. The 5-driver speaker system is individually powered by 5 dedicated digital amplifiers and includes 2 tweeters, 2 mid-range drivers and 1 subwoofer for high-quality sound that rivals much larger, more complicated audio equipment. The S5 is available in both black and white.

Sonos introduced a back S5 some time ago. It was the first time the company strayed from their traditional white devices. I think it looks great!

The back is quite simple. There is a headphone jack, an input jack (this becomes relevant when we discuss AirPlay support), the power cable input and Ethernet inputs in case you are using the S5 as the Wireless bridge for the system. More on that shortly.

The S5 also has a built-in handle on the back. This makes it easy to grab the S5 and bring it into a different room if you choose to listen somewhere different than normal. It does make me wish the S5 had a built-in battery. How nice would it be to grab the S5 and bring it outside without worrying about finding a power source?!

The ZonePlayer 120

If you want to use the Sonos system with a pair of unpowered speakers, then you will want to get the ZonePlayer 120. It connects to the Sonos system and has a built-in amplifier to pump out the music.

The ZonePlayer 120 has a built-in state-of-the-art digital amplifier to deliver superior audio to any room. Just connect the ZP120 your favorite pair of speakers, large or small, and fill any room in your house with unlimited songs and stations.

The ZonePlayer 90

If you have a pair of powered speakers or want to connect an existing audio system or home theater to your system you will want to ZonePlayer 90. It offers no speakers or amplification. It simply connects an audio device to the Sonos system.

The ZonePlayer 90 lets you play all the music you want, all over your house, on all the audio equipment you already own ? your home theater receiver, stereo system, powered speakers, and more. Just connect the ZP90 to any amplified audio device in any room and it?s instantly part of the wireless Sonos system.

ZoneBridge

The first thing you need with any Sonos system is a bridge that lets the system access your WiFi network; this?is accomplished through the bridge. It connects to your router via Ethernet and becomes the bridge (hence the name) to the rest of the system. The bridge is a small box that doesn?t do much of anything but is central to the system functioning properly.

As Sonos explains: To start playing music, one ZonePlayer or ZoneBridge must be connected to the router, then all the rest work wirelessly.

The Sonos ZoneBridge? makes setting up your Sonos system super fast and easy. It?s the ideal solution if your house doesn?t have Ethernet wiring or your router is in a room where you don?t want music. Just connect the ZoneBridge to your broadband router to instantly activate the SonosNet wireless mesh network. Now all ZonePlayers and Controllers will work wirelessly, anywhere in your house. The ZoneBridge can also be used to extend the range of your Sonos system and expand the Controller?s wireless coverage.

Sonos Controller 200

The Sonos Controller 200 is a handheld device that lets you control your entire Sonos system from anywhere in the house so long as you are in the same wireless network as the Sonos system. As Sonos explains:

The Sonos Controller 200 (CR200) gives you instant, wireless access to all your music and all your rooms at the touch of a finger. It?s 100% dedicated to multi-room music control so every time you pick it up or touch the screen it?s instantly on. And, with SonosNet it works wirelessly all over the house.

Until recently, the Controller 200 was an integral part of the ecosystem. Thankfully it is far less important due to Sonos rolling out a series of free Controller apps. Currently there are Sonos Controller apps for the iPhone, iPad and for Android devices; there is also a Controller program for both Mac and PC.

The Controller for iPad is especially nice thanks to the large touch screen.

The Sonos Controller for iPad? is a free application that takes music control to a whole new level. Optimized for the iPad?s large touch screen, finding and playing music has never been easier?or as much fun. With the iPad?s multi-pane view, you can see your music menu, what?s playing in every room, and what?s in your queue, complete with vivid album art. You can browse, search and drag and drop to create the perfect playlist. Then, share the music experience with friends and family?in either landscape or portrait mode. The Sonos Controller for iPad works over your home WiFi network. And you can download it for free on the App Store.

The offerings from the company also includes a few accessories such as a wireless dock for your iPhone or iPod touch, and Klipsch speakers. In addition, a number of blogs also reported that something new from Sonos made a brief appearance with the FCC last month; we?ll let you know what it is as soon as we get official word.

So that?s the overall system. There are just a few available components, but they ensure that you can bring Sonos sound and integration to any room AND use existing components in the process.

Setup

As noted above, the Sonos system starts by tapping into an existing wireless system via Ethernet. This can be done by plugging one of their ZonePlayers into an open Ethernet port on your router or, if there are no ZonePlayers within range of the router, one of the Sonos ZoneBridges. When you take the ZoneBridge route the device simply does what the name promises ? it creates a wireless bridge between the router and the system you are installing. When the ZonePlayer route is taken the device service both as the bridge and the music source for that room.

In Sonos parlance a ?Zone? is a room or, more accurately, a specific Sonos player. Once the initial connection to the home router is created it is time to begin adding Zones to the system.

Setting Up a New S5 Zone

Step 1. Unbox the S5.
Step 2. Plug it in
Step 3. From either the desktop application of one of the handheld apps choose Settings and then Add a Sonos Component

Step 4. Do what the screen says and press Mute and Vol+ on the ZonePlayer or ?Connect? on the new ZoneBridge or wireless Dock
Step 5. Give it a name.
Step 6. Enjoy a new Zone of music!!

Seriously it is THAT easy.

If you are using the ZonePlayer 90, you will need to take the added step of plugging in the self-powered speakers or amplified music component you will be using with it.

If you are using the ZonePlayer 120, you simply plug in the speakers that will be used and let the 120 provide the stream and the amplification.

And since the S5 has the speakers built right in there is nothing else that needs to be done.

In short, the system is simple to set up, easy to use and convenient since you can pretty much control everything, including the settings from a computer or one of the apps.

Mesh

While the ZonePlayer needs to hook into the wireless network it goes beyond it by creating a ?mesh? wherein each device on the Sonos system is a repeater that grabs the signal it receives and then pushes it out anew. That?s the reason I have not experienced the drop-offs and stuttering I often find when using AirPlay. Here?s how Sonos explains it:

The key to designing a music system that plays music all over the house is having a wireless network that works all over the house. That?s why Sonos created a wireless mesh network called SonosNet to deliver the range and performance required of a multi-room music system. When you need to stream music wirelessly, the network you use really matters. When a network is overloaded or stretched to its limits, you hear echoes and delays from room to room, and your Internet speed can be sluggish. Not so with Sonos.Sonos chose a mesh network because a traditional network with a central hub relaying all the traffic didn?t provide the house-wide coverage we wanted. What?s more, access point networks were plagued by performance issues. SonosNet changes all that ? providing the extensive range and superior performance you need to enjoy music in every room without requiring a massive wiring remodel.

My Experience

So here?s my story with Sonos.

I have had my eye on the Sonos system for some time, but never jumped in because of a rather high cost of entry. The initial setup is at least $400 and it can climb significantly as you add rooms and other features. I met with company representatives in Las Vegas this past January while attending CES and had a chance to check out the system up close. I was impressed with the look and features but, because there were other people in the room speaking with other company representatives, I didn?t have a chance to actually hear the system. And, after all, a system like this is all about the music.

Recently my interest in the system was renewed when I read that they had added support for Apple?s Airplay. A company representative had hinted at this in January but gave no firm date for commitment. I wrote to Sonos once again and asked if it might be possible to arrange a loaner system, and it arrived a few days later.

The review system included two S5 ZonePlayers and a ZoneBridge. Sonos also offered to send an Apple Airport Express so I could try out the new Airplay functionality. I already had an extra one so that didn?t need to be included.

I pulled the ZoneBridge out of the box and plugged it into my router. I downloaded the Sonos Controller to my iPad. I went to settings and added the ZoneBridge to my ?system?.

Total time: 2 minutes.

I unpacked the first S5 and plugged it in. On the iPad I opted to add a new ZonePlayer. I pressed the Mue and Vol+ buttons when prompted and, a few seconds later was asked to give it a name. Since it would be in my home study I chose ?Office?.

Total Time: 2 minutes.

I unpacked the second S5 and plugged it in. On the iPad I opted to add a new ZonePlayer. I pressed the Mue and Vol+ buttons when prompted and, a few seconds later was asked to give it a name. Since it would be in my livingcroom I chose ?Livingcroom?.

Total Time: 2 minutes.

I went to my MacBook Air, downloaded the Mac Controller app and checked out what music services I could add to it. I had a Pandora account, so I followed the instructions for adding it. I then added my RDIO account. I wanted to try the MOG service (it directly competes with RDIO and Rhapsody), so I activated a free trial and added it. I added the iTunes library running on the MacMini (since sold), and the Sonos system began to index the music on it. I was disappointed to see that Slacker Radio is not yet available through Sonos, but hopefully we will see that some time soon.

Total Time, including browsing around to see what else was available: <20 minutes.

I started listening to music and was blown away. While the S5 won?t offer real stereo separation since it is a single unit, I was still impressed with the quality of the sound.

I later discovered that I can actually use the S5 to get true stereo separation by putting two S5s in one Zone and selecting the option to use each as either the ?Right? or the ?Left? speaker. Sure, with the S5 running $399 each that is rather pricey, but if you want stereo and can afford it, then this arrangement is an option.

I began using the system and was blown away. I tried playing different music in each Zone and was amazed by how well it worked. There were no hiccups or other issues. I then grabbed the iPad and ?Grouped? the two zones. Now the same music was playing in both Zones. And, thanks to the iPad Controller I had the option to adjust the volume separately for each Zone or to raise or lower the volume in tandem.
I
Was
Impressed.

How impressed was I?

I went back into my home study, pulled up Safari, went to the Sonos Web site and placed an order for my own system, since the one that had arrived would need to be returned after this review. I ordered a ZoneBridge, two S5 ZonePlayers in white, one ZonePlayer in Black and a ZonePlayer90 for use in the den with the powered speakers I currently have and with the home theater I hope to install at some point.

Two days later my system arrived. Yes, even the Sonos ordering process is as simple and straightforward as can be. I put a white S5 in my study, a white S5 in the living room, the ZonePlayer90 in the den, and the black S5 in the bedroom. It was then that I discovered that the Controller app has a section for creating alarms that can be set to go off in any or all Zones at specified times, AND you can select from songs, music services, playlists or built-in sounds. Yes, the bedroom S5 ZonePlayer has even become my alarm clock.

Extras

NAS Networked Music

When I got the Sonos system, I was using a Mac Mini as a music server. I decided to sell it, but later realized that it left me without access to my iTunes library unless my MacBook Air was on the network. I fixed that rather quickly by formatting an external drive, partitioning it into three with one section as my TimeMachine Backup, a second for Elana?s, and the third for my iTunes library.

I copied my entire 83GB library to the drive, attached it to my Airport Xtreme and added it to my Sonos system as a library. The system then set out to index the music. It took quite some time since the library is so large, but once done I had access to the entire library in every Zone.

AirPlay

I was quite excited when Apple announced AirPlay. At the time I thought it might be an issue for Sonos. After using AirPlay for a bit I realized that it had some major issues and, thanks to them, Sonos needn?t be worried. Among the issues I have is the lag between starting, stopping or pausing music on your device and the change being reflected in the sound actually playing. I can, at times, tap play on my iPad and then count to five or more before the music actually starts. It is rather annoying. Add in the fact that there are constant drop offs when some kind of glitch hits my wireless network, and it leaves a good deal to be desired.

For some reason I don?t have these issues with the Sonos system, even though it uses the wireless system; that alone makes the Sonos system a good choice.

All of this noted, I still wanted to try out the new AirPlay integration Sonos rolled out recently.

From Sonos:

Music from your favorite audio sources:?Want to stream what?s playing on your iPhone?, iPad?, or iPod touch? to every room without missing a beat? Simply connect an Apple AirPort Express? to any Sonos ZonePlayer via line-in and experience?true multi-room AirPlay.

Setting up the Sonos system to work with AirPlay was a simple 1,2,3 process.

1. Connect the AirPort Express to Sonos S5 via the 3.5 mm audio cable the company includes in the box.
2. Connect the S5 to AirPort Express via the included Ethernet cable.
3. Plug the AirPort Express into power and configure it with the included AirPort Utility.
There are specific instructions for setting up the AirPort Exress so it works best with the Sonos system. Among the recommendations is the step of turning off the router functionality on the Exrpess. Sonos explains why-

Sonos tested several possible configurations for the Airport Express as an AirPlay device and found the best results when using the Ethernet connection in conjunction with SonosNet. SonosNet was designed and built to serve as a dedicated platform for audio distribution, unlike a typical wireless network. Using the Sonos recommended configuration will provide the best possible AirPlay experience.

The steps are straightforward but need to be closely followed so that everything works right. (You can find instructions here.)

Once everything is set up, you can play music from your iOS device and select ?SONOS? from the pop-up menu of places the device should send the audio. You then need to go to the Sonos app and select the ?Line-In? source from the menu. While it sounds like a huge number of steps it is fairly simple, and once the music is streaming from the device to the ZonePlayer via AirPlay, it is as simple as changing the music on the device to listen to something new.

I don?t know that I will find myself using the AirPlay feature all that often, but I am happy to have it available.

Conclusion

Have you ever had the experience of buying something one day, initially loving it, but then after a few days pass ? you love it even more? That?s the way I feel about the Sonos system. As I wrote earlier in this review, I had been saving up for a home audio/theater system, and on impulse I used that money to get a Sonos system for good. Not only have I not had even a moment of buyer?s remorse, but I?m thinking about adding a few more rooms to the system as soon as possible. I love it.

What?s Sonos? secret? I think it something to do with this:

Last summer I read a book by Simon Sinek called Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action. Sinek?s main message is this: Most people, institutions and business start with what they do. Some, however, start with WHY they do it, and what they do grows out of that. Such companies are few and far between, but one company that does this is Apple. That, Sinek argues is a huge reason for their success. Another such company is? Sonos. They don?t try to be all things to all people; instead they have a clear mission, a clear purpose, a clear ?Why? ? and they stick to it. What is that ?Why?? Quite simply they want to give people access to all the music in the world, simply and seamlessly.

And that is exactly what they have done.

You can learn more and order your Sonos system from the company web site. You can also order here through our Amazon Affiliate store.

MSRP: Starter kit of 1 S5 and 1 ZoneBridge is $448. Each additional room is $349 and up

What I Like: Everything! Big, excellent sound; Easy setup; Easy to use; Easily controlled from a variety of devices using the Sonos app; Support for AirPlay; Support for numerous music services

What Needs Improvement: The system is close to perfect, but I would like to see a battery-powered offering, and I miss Slacker radio support

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Source: http://www.geardiary.com/2011/06/26/the-sonos-wireless-home-audio-system-review/

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