I made this lens as an offshoot of my Stuff I'm Into Lens (currently in progress) for folks that might not be interested in sifting through all the other cool stuff I like to get to what they're looking for. This lens is all about the Mozilla Firefox Browser and its buddy the Greasemonkey Extension. If you like what you see here, please visit my other lenses.
And don't forget to RATE THIS LENS by clicking on the stars above!
**(Oh and yes, I did create both FF/GM combo graphics on this page. Feel free to repost but pls cite where you got the graphic - maybe Firefox wants to pay me lots of $$ for it..?)
Mozilla Firefox & Extensions
basic info and + a list of my favorites...
As you may know (and if you don't, you should, shame on you), Firefox is an open source web browser. That means that the behind-the-scenes-usually-top-secret type stuff (e.g. Microsoft Internet Explorer) code for the program is open to the public. That makes it so that smart programmer people can write a program to make Firefox work better, and they don't have to even work for Mozilla. So there's tons and tons of extensions - useful mini-programs that are free to download. So you get to customize Firefox using tools that are specific to your needs. It's like Christmas for your computer!Instructions:
1. Download and install the Mozilla Firefox browser here.
2. Go to the Firefox Add-Ons Site - this is the largest collection of themes and extensions on the web. You will find a description of each extension along with ratings, screenshots and user comments. There are extensions available elsewhere but this is the best resource I've found on the web.
3. Research EACH extension before you download and install it. Read the rating and comments for each one as they often include helpful information about the extension, espcially potential conflicts with extensions you may already have (remember, anyone can create an extension, and as with anything, some programmers are better and more experienced than others at creating bugproof extensions and working around conflicts). There is also a link to the author's homepage for each extension. Check on the author's homepage BEFORE you download the extension from Mozilla. Good extension authors update their programs frequently to solve bugs, improve functionality, and incorporate user suggestions. When a new version is available, it can take several days for it to post on the main Mozilla site, so you should check to make sure Mozilla has the most updated version available for download. Please note, however, if you download the extension from the main Mozilla page, Firefox will automatically detect updated versions that post to the extension's page. Not all extensions downloaded from the author's pages will automatically update.
4. Download and install your selected extensions. Mozilla Firefox should automatically detect when you are attempting to download and install an extension. If you are not installing directly from their add-on site, however, you may click the prompted "agree and install" button and nothing happens. Don't panic. Instead, check the top of the page for a message that Firefox blocked the installation:

If the installation was blocked, follow these instructions:
a. Click "Edit Options..." in the bar at the top of the page. (screenshot) The Firefox "Allowed Sites" window will appear.
b. Copy and paste the URL for the website you are installing from in the box under "Address of web site." (screenshot)
c. Click "Allow" to add the page to the list of allowed sites, then click "OK."
d. Click "Agree and Install" a second time to begin installation.
e. If the installation was not blocked and you're still having trouble, read this troubleshooting reference. It was written specifically for the Google Toolbar but the troubleshooting instructions will apply to any extension installation.
Be sure to RESTART your Firefox browser after EACH download/installation. If you install 15 extensions one after the other, restart, and then find a bug, you won't be able to pinpoint which extension is causing the problem. There's actually a handy extension called Restart Firefox (see below) that will restart the browser for you instantly. :)While you certainly can download all of your extensions in one day, try to resist the urge to do this - instead, download 5-7 extensions and then try them out for a few days. This will, again, help you to pinpoint problems that arise with extension conflicts or bugs. It will also help you to keep track of your browser udpates and to really notice the changes and evaluate their usefulness. If you decide you want to remove an extension, you can easily uninstall it within the Firefox interface. Restart your browser after any installations or uninstallations.
5. Post a rating and comment on the author's page. Firefox extension downloads are nearly always 100% FREE. The authors spend a lot of time creating extensions to solve their own problems and to share with the public and often times their only reward is the feedback (positive or negative) received from their users. Become a registered user (free) for Mozilla's add-on site and let your extension authors know what you think of their work. Ask questions, offer suggestions, and notify them of bugs or extension conflicts. That is your contribution to the open source movement.
6. Check back to the Firefox Add-ons site frequently. New extensions and updates are posted every day. You can even subscribe to an RSS feed listing the most popular themes and extensions each day - see below for a recent clip (what the heck is RSS? Go to this great lens to learn about it, then check out my Stuff I'm Into lens for a list of my favorite feeds).
My Favorite Extensions:
**NOTE: The following extensions have been tested to be functional for Mozilla Firefox version 1.5.0.4
- Adblock Plus
- You know those freakin' annoying ads and banners on the internet that sometimes even take longer to download than everything else on the page? Install Adblock Plus (along with Adblock Filterset.G Updater) now and get rid of them. When I first installed this extension I thought there was something missing on my favorite pages...then I realized it was all the blinking, seisure-inducing ADS! Ah the sweet relief...
- Adblock Filterset.G Updater
- This is a companion extension to Adblock and should be used with it. This extension automatically downloads the latest version of Filterset.G every 4-7 days. Filterset.G is an excellent set of filters maintained for Adblock that blocks most ads on the internet. In addition, this extension allows you to define your own set of filters that you can add along with Filterset.G during an update.

- All-In-One Sidebar
- All-in-One Sidebar is a clean sidebar tool that enables you to quickly switch between sidebars, view current downloads, extensions, and more in the sidebar, or view source code or websites in the sidebar. It includes a slide-out button and a toolbar, all of which can be extensively customized. Enjoy a clear browser window, more toolbar space and much more...
** Please note: I haven't had any trouble, but you should probably know that AIOS is notorious for conflicting with other extensions. I feel that its functionality is worth the risk, but you'll have to judget that yourself. Check out the author's homepage for a list of known bugs/conflicts. - Book Burro
- This extension is great for bibliophile shopaholics like myself. It automatically senses when you are looking at a book at one of many popular online bookselling sites and offers you a chance to compare prices instantly. Last time I used it I found out that the $19.98 amazon book I was considering was at half.com for $3.12!! Very cool...also available as a Greasemonkey script (see below), if that floats your boat...

- Colorful Tabs
- Simply beautiful add-on that changes every tab to a different color and makes them easy to distinguish while beautifying the overall appearance of the interface. Gorgeous, dahling...
- Copy Plain Text
- You know how annoying it is when you copy something off a website and then try to paste it into Word or your email service and it copies with it all that annoying formatting junk - like messy fonts, tabs, etc? This enables an option to be added to your right click menu to "copy plain text" and strips the text off all the formatting so it effortlessly seams into your project. I use this extension every day. So sweet.

- Del.icio.us Post
- For fans of the thrillingly addictive social bookmarking site del.icio.us. Makes it easy to post links directly to your del.icio.us page without leaving the page you're on. Also puts two buttons on your toolbar for easy post and links to your page. This is possibly my most-used FF extension...
- Favicon Picker
- This is an excellent little extension that helps you to keep your bookmarks toolbar organized (see below for my favorite bookmarklets). If you like to add bookmarks to your toolbar (usually for websites that you visit often or for bookmarklets), you very quickly realize that it is hard to keep track of these when they all are marked with the standard Firefox bookmark star:

So this extension allows you to change the default favicons on the toolbar, enabling you to enhance usability of your bookmarks toolbar:

(Example of enhanced properties window above and resulting toolbar below)

But where do I get these favicons you ask? Well there are a variety of different options:
1. There are lots of Favicon Galleries on the web (MpP Favicon Gallery & Favourite Favicons are a couple of good ones), and you can download the favicons from their collections by right clicking and "save image as" directly to your computer (I made a little folder just for my favicons).
2. You can download a favicon directly from its website by viewing the source of a page and searching for its "favicon.ico" file. Then paste that location into your browser window, hit enter, and when the favicon displays, repeat the 'right click' process above.
3. If you're feeling particularly creative, you can even make your own favicon using one of the many generators on the web. - ForecastFox Enhanced
- Sweet fully customizable extension that puts an Accuweather (by far the best weather service out of Penn State - woot!) forecast directly on your browser, attached to on any toolbar you'd like. You can choose the style of the forecast icons and set it to alert you upon news of severe weather. It also links you to local animated radar for your area. Weather's never been so easy...
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McAfee Site Advisor
- McAfee Site Advisor was created by a group of MIT engineers who wanted to make the Web safer after spending one too many holiday breaks trying to clean a mess of spam, adware, and spyware from their families' computers. This handy extension highlights search engine responses with a simple colorcode to indicate relative safety of that site from net nasties. Helps you to proactively prevent spam.
- Menu Editor
- This extension helps you clean up all of your toolbar menus (i.e. File, Edit, etc) and most importantly your RIGHT-CLICK menu. After installing dozens of FF extensions that all add right-click menu options, the menu can quickly lose its quick-click functionality. This extension allows you to fully customize all of your browser menus.
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MenuX
- MenuX was designed for laptop/tablet use where maximum screen realestate is desired. Adds the ability to collapse any toolbar (so incredibly wonderful you won't believe it). Adds a library of toolbar buttons for menu functions so that you can keep the functions that you use frequently within one click. I recommend that you use this exension in conjunction with Menu Editor (above) to clean up the contents of each menu that you have left visible. Gives you full power over your menu and toolbar displays.
- Restart Firefox
- Adds "Restart Firefox" menuitem to "File" and a toolbar button for easy restarting. Great for when you install themes, extensions, or other junk a lot, requiring you to restart Firefox frequently. I use this extension almost daily.
- RSS Ticker
- RSS Ticker is currently vying for the position of my most FAVORITE FF extension. It's an RSS reader that scrolls feed headlines across your screen while you surf, so you don't have to actively open an RSS reader to see your feed headlines. It's easy to add feeds via Live Bookmarks, and you can toggle which feeds you want to display, max number of headlines for each feed, update frequency, etc. My favorite distraction...

- Stumble Upon
- Stumble Upon is a toolbar extension that allows you to "channel surf" the web. It allows you to easily select your interests from a large list and then directs you to web pages that others with your interests have found entertaining or useful. You then refine your preferences by marking the page with a thumbs up or down. This is the very extension that led me to firefox and greasemonkey, so I owe it BIG time! Plus it's loads of fun - try it out.

- Tab Mix Plus
- This MUST-HAVE extension enhances Firefox's tab browsing capabilities. It includes such features as duplicating tabs, controlling tab focus, tab clicking options, undo closed tabs and windows, plus much more. It also includes a full-featured session manager with crash recovery that can save and restore combinations of opened tabs and windows. I am convinced that I would die without this extension.
- Target Alert
- Don't you hate it when you accidentally click on a link that unknowingly takes you to a .pdf file and it takes forever to load? This little tool posts a small icon next to the link to show what type of file it leads to, or the effects it may have, such as opening a new window or leaving a secure site. Icons can be set to appear only when mousing over a link, or they may be added to links automatically when the page loads. Options are fully customizable too!
- UT Tweaker (formerly Toolbar Cleanup)
- This extension allows you to tweak various aspects of the browser's user interface. I needed this tool after downloading so many FF extensions, each with their own toolbar, that my browser window had shrunken to the size of a post-it note. This extension lets you:
- Remove all kinds of stupid stuff that you never use from your menus, toolbars and tabs
- Hide the Search Bar except for the site icon until mouse hover over
- Relocate the tabbar to the bottom
- Combine the stop and reload buttons
- Add separators, bold text on status message and other small changes
- Add a keyword when adding a bookmark
- Move the sidebar to the bottom
- Turn off autocomplete in the Search Bar, Location Bar, and HTML form fields
- And much, much more...

- Well Rounded
- Changes your boring and butt-ugly location bar, search bar, find bar, and other toolbars on your browser to a nice-looking rounded interface. Small extension that prettifies your browser.
- Greasemonkey
- This is my other most favorite FF extension, but it's almost not really just an extension - that would be like saying an iBook is a wordprocessor. Greasemonkey essentially allows small bits of code (called scripts) to be added into webpages before they get displayed in your browser window. That means that you can essentially tweak and customize the way YOU view SOMEONE ELSE'S website. Here's a good SAT-like analogy: scripts are to Greasemonkey what extensions are to Firefox. Ahhhhh it's all coming together now isn't it?
Scripts can be used to solve problems (like auto-organizing a messy site or fixing hyperlinks that don't work), fix bugs, or generally make websites better or more efficient. Some scripts are site-specific (for example, I have a Greasemonkey script that allows me to randomize my Netflix queue), and others apply to any page viewed in the browser (like a sweet script I have installed that pops up a little window with any rss feeds available from that site for easy subscription). And you don't have to be a programmer to utilize Greasemonkey cuz there's TONS of free scripts out there that others have made and you can download and use for FREEEEEE! Below I've listed my favorite Greasemonkey scripts for your use/enjoyment and where to find them.
Foxy Tips & Tricks
around and around the mulberry bush
- Firefox Hacker
- Excellent site chock full of firefox hacks.
- Firefox Tips & Tricks
- This page contains various tips and tricks for Firefox directly from Mozilla. Most of these tips involve editing of text files on your hard drive and is not recommended if you're not familiar with basic file and folder usage. The tips are divided into four categories and sorted by importance/popularity.
- The Ultimate Firefox Guide
- From the Geeks Bay blog, a mega Firefox Tutorial and guide. It has everything you need (I hope). History of Firefox, tweaking optimizing, add-ons and themes. Read on the full article and fly through the tips given how to tweak Firefox and then you will realise what the Mozilla people meant when they said Conquer back the web.
The Extension Attraction
Can't get enough? Check out this list of lists...

- Listible: Best Firefox Extensions
- From Listable, the biggest and most comprehensive list I've seen on the web (aside from the main Mozilla Addon page). Over 100 recommended extensions complete with a short description and relative rating.
- 50 Best Extensions for Power Surfers
- Excellent and continually updated list from the Quick Online Tips Blog.
- Firefox Guide
- Excellent list from Will Langford's blog. I wish I had come across this one early on in my extension search...
- Mozilla Firefox: Have it Your Way!
- List of blogger Leslie Franke's favorite 25 FF extensions. She classified them into three broad categories: those that add additional enhancements to the browser and improve a user's experience, those that add additional enhancements to certain web sites, and those that are quite useful but only for certain segments of the population.
- Problematic Extensions
- This article lists known extensions that cause unwanted side effects in Firefox or in other extensions and plugins,
along with recommended workarounds. - Top Extensions to Manage Firefox Extensions
- Top 3 Ways You Know You're an Extension Addict:
1.You check the Firefox Extension page for updates 3 times or more a day...
2.You dream about extensions that may one day be created...
3. Your extension count tops 25...
If any of the above applies to you, this is the list will save you from yourself. How to manage your extension addiction. - Firefox Extension Development Tutorial: Create Your Own Extensions!
- This tutorial has been created for individuals wanting to develop full-featured extensions for the Mozilla Firefox browser. The tutorial has been constructed as a step-by-step guide providing many examples, explanations, and external references to help the reader have a full understanding of extension development. Appropriate for beginners.
Fresh Fox: Newest Firefox Extensions
updated daily from mozilla...
What the heck is RSS? Go to this great lens to learn about it, then check out my Stuff I'm Into lens for a list of my favorite feeds.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGreasemonkey...that Funky Monkey...!
around and around the mulberry bush, the monkey chased the...fox?
Instructions: 1. Download and install the Mozilla Firefox browser.
2. Download and install the Greasemonkey Extension
3. Install any of the userscripts below by either:
- RIGHT clicking on the link and selecting "Install User Script..." from your right-click menu, or
- Clicking on the link and following the directions of the Greasemonkey popup at the top of the page (for example: "Greetings! This is a Greasemonkey script. Click here to start using it!").
- If you have trouble, you can refer to the Greaseblog.
- All of the following scripts have been tested (by moi) to work on FF version 1.5.0.4. If you have an earlier version, you're on your own...
4. Go find more scripts!
- The largest script resource is Userscripts.org
- You can also check out the popular del.icio.us bookmarks for GM
- Listible also has an excellent list of good scripts.
5. Have fun making the web work your way!
My Favorite Scripts:
- Zoom Image
- This fantastic script allows you to zoom individual images using an image toolbar appearing whenever you hold your mouse over an image. Clean and easy to use.
- Search Term Highlighter
- Highlights your search terms from major search engines on the results pages so that you can easily spot what you're looking for. Works great for winning "fine then let's check Google" arguments and surfing through large websites with lots o' data.

- Google Image ReLinker
- Rewrites Google Image Search links to point straight to the pictures. If you use Google Image Search frequently this script will save you loads of time...well maybe not loads, but at least a click or two and a certain level of general annoyance...
- MySpace Auto-Login
- Sick and tired of logging into your MySpace account over and over? This script will force your browser to remember your password (if you have firefox set to remember that pw) so you can login automatically - no password-typing required!
- Greased Lightbox
- User script designed to enhance browsing on websites that link to images such as Google Image Search, Flickr, Wikipedia, Facebook, MySpace, and deviantART, but works for any webpage that uses thumbnails. This script allows users to browse hotlinked images within a seperate popup window. Also provides a top navigation bar allowing users to preview images - within the same directory - in succession. Click here for a demo.
- RSS Panel
- When you visit a site with an RSS feed, this script displays that site's RSS feed in a floating panel (click here for a demo). If you're an RSS fiend like me, this script is very nice...
- Netflix Queue Manager
- I have over 100 movies on my Netflix list and I've always wanted to randomize the titles. This script does that and more. It provides an interactive page with a much more efficient and effective set of controls that make queue management a breeze. Features include:
1. Move to top - move any item to the top of the queue (without having to reload the entire page).
2. Move to bottom - move low priority items to the bottom of the queue with a single click.
3. Drag and drop - intuitively move any item to any position using drag-n-drop.
4. Sort - order the entire queue by star rating, title, genre, availability, and MPAA rating.
5. Reverse - reverse the current order of the queue (useful after a Sort).
6. Shuffle - randomly re-order the entire queue. - Link Checker
- An absolute MUST for LensMasters, this sweet script will place a "Check Links" button in the upper right hand corner of any site that you designate:
Click the button, and Link Checker automatically scans the page for hyperlinks and highlights them to indicate active links (green), questionable links (orange) and dead links (red). See below for an example with this page.
**Note: You DO have to manually enable the script for the pages you like to scan. The easiest way to do this is from the Greasemonkey menu (click on the little monkey fase in the right lower corner of your Firefox window's status bar). Just add the url(s) you want to enable in the box labeled with Include Pages. A * serves as wildcard, so any page on Squidoo is added like this: http://www.squidoo.com/*
Once you've installed this script, test it out on the Link Checker testpage.

- Linkifier
- Turns text URLs and email addresses into clickable links - you know, like when your grandma sends you a link to www.bifocals.com and you have to copy and paste it into the browser window? Linkify hunts those annoying little buggers down and turns them into something you can use. Ex:
Before:
"Dear Gary,
Can you please go to that website www.bifocals.com and read me the prices? I can't read them without my glasses!
Yours, Grandma"
After:
"Dear Gary,
You are such a fantastic grandson that I've made you the sole beneficiary on my will. That means you will receive millions from my online business, www.bifocals.com.
Yours, Grandma"
(SWEET!)
Monkey Business
greasy goodness
- Listible: The Best Greasemonkey Scripts
- The title says it all - a sweet list from Listible
- Dive Into Greasemonkey
- Very comprehensive step-by-step GM guide for beginners and advanced users.
- Greaseblog: The Official Greasemonkey Blog
- The official blog from mozdev, the mozilla development community.
- Userscripts.org
- The web's biggest repository for GM scripts. So far since I've been meddling with GM it has been down or extremely slow. I think they're redoing their site. Don't fret though! Most of the scripts you can search for and find elsewhere on the script author's home page usually. If you know what you're looking for just do a Google Search
- Script Compiler
- A tool you can use to create a Firefox extension (.xpi) from a greasemonkey script. For the advanced FF/GM user only.
The Fox & The Monkey
more online reading about the web of the future....
- MOZILLA FIREFOX READING:
- Wikipedia: Mozilla Firefox
Spread Firefox
Ongoing movement by die-hard Firefox fans to spread the browser to all corners of the world - GREASEMONKEY READING:
- Wikipedia: Greasemonkey
- Internet Week Review: Greasemonkey Serves Up The Web As You Like It
- Simon Willison's Blog: Greasemonkey Etiquette
Addresses bandwidth and other functionality issues of GM. - Nivi: Greasemonkey will blow up business models (as well as your mind)
Excellent article from Nivi Blog that comprehensively covers many issues raised by Greasemonkey - from security, to bandwidth, to ethics. - CNet:Firefox add-on lets surfers tweak sites, but is it safe?
Looks at security issues with GM - WiredNews:Firefox Users Monkey With the Web
Looks at security issues raised by GM - OPEN SOURCE READING:
- Wikipedia: Open Source
- Open Sources: Voices from the Open Source Revolution
Free ebook from O'Reilly available entirely online! - The Rise of Open Source Licensing: A Challenge to the Use of Intellectual Property in the Software Industry, by Mikko Välimäki, 2005
A fairly comprehensive but dense pdf ebook covering the history of open source
Foxy Feedback
praise, boos, thoughts, comments, suggestions from visitors...
Got something to say? Want to post a comment or a suggestion or report a dead link? Has my lens changed your life or made you want to jump off a bridge? Well why are you still reading this? Send me some feedback already!
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Reply
- Music-Resource Music-Resource Jan 28, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
- Hi FateGirl, You are the Fox-Monkey Goddess. That is some darn handy info you've put on your site. Your writing style is very engaging as well. Nice job ~Music Resource~
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Reply
- KCLau KCLau Jan 9, 2008 @ 9:13 am
- great lens ... love it
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Reply
- Tom Murphy Tom Murphy Jun 25, 2006 @ 3:39 pm
- This is a WONDERFUL lens... except it has TMI .. too much information!
I can't keep up with all the wonderful tips that this writer has to offer.
Anyway, thanks... I'll just have to work harder to keep up.
tom
Archived Feedback
comments and suggestions from visitors...
- Tue, 13 Jun 2006 13:19:07 -0500 Big Jim wrote:
your lens is very helpful. i enjoy the links and descriptions to the firefox extension. maybe one day i'll have time to figure out what greasemonkey is. i've added you to my lensroll at squidoo.com/bigjim. take a look at my lenses if you have a chance. thanks big jim - Fri, 9 Jun 2006 11:49:30 EDT Leann C wrote:
Congrats! No one can say you aren't spending your time off productively! - Fri, 9 Jun 2006 08:31:49 -0700 Brian B wrote:
Forget doctorate in geography...you should be a technical writer/columnist!! :) - Thu, 08 Jun 2006 19:34:35 -0500 Jenifer Soykan wrote:
This was just what I needed. I love Firefox and have downloaded and
deleted lots of extensions, but didn't feel very "in control" of what was
going on . . . Your lens helped me get some clarity. Thanks! - Thu, 08 Jun 2006 19:34:35 -0500 Megan Casey (Squidoo Editor-in-Chief) wrote:
(From the Squidoo Newsletter)
Last week the cool people over at SpreadFirefox posted a review of Squidoo and invited their members--passionate Firefox users--to make lenses about a) Firefox b) anything else they're digging right now. Stop by the SpreadFirefox Headquarters on Squidoo for a look at what some people have done, or to make your own official lens.
But FIRST....
Destiny Aman came up with the knock-your-socks off thorough and creative lens, Firefox & Greasemonkey: Pimp Your Web. www.squidoo.com/spreadfirefox/firefoxgreasemonkey.
She says she's a big fan of lists, so here's a list of what the Squidoo team likes about this lens:
a) Great lists (stands to reason, doesn't it?)
b) Crystal clear instructions for first-time Firefox users
c) Recommended extensions (and GreaseMonkey!) with reasons she likes them
d) Lens interlinking (she points to her other lenses, and uses our new LensRoll feature perfectly)
e) Okay, that GreaseMonkey-Firefox logo is pretty cute too
Whether you're a Firefox beginner or a long-time pro, you're guaranteed to get a few tips here for better browsing.
Thanks, and have fun.
Megan Casey
Editor in Chief
Squidoo - Tue, 6 Jun 2006 08:45:31 -0400 Megan Casey (Squidoo Editor-in-Chief) wrote:
destiny,
wow. such a cool lens! would you like to include this as an official SpreadFirefox lens, listed on the Headquarters? your URL would change to squidoo.com/spreadfirefox/firefoxgreasemonkey (kind of long in this case, i know). otherwise everything else would stay the same. in any case, thanks for the note and the terrific work
megan
Megan Casey Editor in Chief Squidoo LLC
Stop by the SquidSwag Store www.squidoo.com/squidswag - Tuesday, June 6, 09:58:29 PDT Ken Saunders wrote:
Awesome lens! You should make a post about it in Asa's Blog on the front page on SpreadFirefox.com. Thanks for adding me and of course I've added your Lens. It must have taken a lot of research and time to acquire that much content. Good luck with it and take care. Ken
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