# 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
        hooks = {
            "play": [favicon.download_playing],  # observers queue here
        }

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


        # constructor

            gtk.Builder.add_from_file(self, conf.find_in_dirs([".", conf.share], ui_file)), gui_startup(2/20.0)
            # manual gtk operations
            self.extensionsCTM.set_submenu(self.extensions)  # duplicates Station>Extension menu into stream context menu

            # initialize channels
            self.channels = {
              "bookmarks": bookmarks(parent=self),   # this the remaining built-in channel
              #"shoutcast": None,#shoutcast(parent=self),
            }
            gui_startup(3/20.0)
            self.load_plugin_channels()   # append other channel modules / plugins


            # load application state (widget sizes, selections, etc.)
            try:

        # play button
        def on_play_clicked(self, widget, event=None, *args):
            row = self.row()
            if row:
                self.channel().play(row)
                [hook(row) for hook in self.hooks["play"]]


        # streamripper
        def on_record_clicked(self, widget):
            row = self.row()
            action.record(row.get("url"), "audio/mpeg", "url/direct", row=row)

        def add_plugins(self):

            for name,meta in channels.module_meta().items():

                # add plugin load entry
                if name:
                    cb = gtk.CheckButton(name)
                    cb.get_children()[0].set_markup("<b>%s</b> <i>(%s)</i> %s\n<small>%s</small>" % (meta["title"], meta["type"], meta.get("version", ""), meta["description"]))
                    self.add_( "config_plugins_"+name, cb )

                # look up individual plugin options, if loaded
                if self.channels.get(name) or self.features.get(name):
                    c = self.channels.get(name) or self.features.get(name)
                    for opt in c.config:

# Some feature extensions inject custom categories[] into streams{}
# e.g. "search" adds its own category once activated, as does the "timer" plugin.
#
class bookmarks(GenericChannel):


        # desc

        module = "bookmarks"
        title = "bookmarks"
        version = 0.4
        base_url = "file:.config/streamtuner2/bookmarks.json"
        listformat = "*/*"

        
        # i like this
        config = [
            {"name":"like_my_bookmarks", "type":"boolean", "value":0, "description":"I like my bookmarks"},