Блин!

[mister-mist.livejournal.com]

What is the exact meaning of the expression "блин!" that some people use to decorate their language? I suppose it is vulgar, but is it also offending? And what is the relation to the small delicious Russian food speciality with that name?

I hope that I can get a precise answer here. I have asked the question directly to a few Russian people, but they seem reluctant to answering and try to move the conversation away from the subject.

Спасибо всем! Thank you, everybody!
You have certainly given an elaborate explanation and improved my understanding.

Online English-Russian dictionary with stress marks?

[kutsuwamushi.livejournal.com]

I'm looking for an online English-Russian dictionary that show where the stress falls on the Russian word. I have print dictionaries, but they're too heavy to carry around with me.

Failing that, someone recently posted a link to a webpage they built that will add stress marks to the Russian text that you enter. Did anyone bookmark it?