# object containers
        widgets = {}     # non-glade widgets (the manually instantiated ones)
        channels = {}    # channel modules
        features = {}    # non-channel plugins
        working = []     # threads
        add_signals = {} # channel gtk-handler signals

        # status variables
        channel_names = ["bookmarks"]    # order of channel notebook tabs
        current_channel = "bookmarks"    # currently selected channel name (as index in self.channels{})


        # constructor

            self.current_channel = self.current_channel_gtk()
            try: self.channel().first_show()
            except: print("channel .first_show() initialization error")

      
            # bind gtk/glade event names to functions
            gui_startup(0.95)
            self.connect_signals(dict( {
                "gtk_main_quit" : self.gtk_main_quit,                # close window
                # treeviews / notebook
                "on_stream_row_activated" : self.on_play_clicked,    # double click in a streams list
                "on_category_clicked": self.on_category_clicked,     # new selection in category list
                "on_notebook_channels_switch_page": self.channel_switch,   # channel notebook tab changed
                "station_context_menu": lambda tv,ev: station_context_menu(tv,ev),
                # toolbar

                "search_google": search.google,
                "search_cancel": search.cancel,
                "true": lambda w,*args: True,
                "streamedit_open": streamedit.open,
                "streamedit_save": streamedit.save,
                "streamedit_new": streamedit.new,
                "streamedit_cancel": streamedit.cancel,
            }.items() + self.add_signals.items() ))
            
            # actually display main window
            gui_startup(0.99)
            self.win_streamtuner2.show()
            
            # WHY DON'T YOU WANT TO WORK?!
            #self.shoutcast.gtk_list.set_enable_search(True)

                        if module not in self.channel_names:  # skip (glade) built-in channels
                            self.channel_names.append(module)
                    # other plugin types
                    else:
                        self.features[module] = plugin_class(parent=self)
                    
                except Exception, e:
                    print("error initializing:", module, ", exception:")
                    import traceback
                    traceback.print_exc()

            # default plugins
            conf.add_plugin_defaults(self.channels["bookmarks"].config, "bookmarks")
            #conf.add_plugin_defaults(self.channels["shoutcast"].config, "shoutcast")

        # store window/widget states (sizes, selections, etc.)
        def app_state(self, widget):