Fun Stuff
This newsletter will be for inexpensive fun ... and some tools that you may
even find helpful.
One serious topic ... if you have not installed your software firewall, there
is a new service that has a very good, free product. I have been using
both the free and the 'pro' version of Agnitum's Outpost firewall. Both
are very good. I have had some initial difficulties with pcAnywhere and setting up
my own FTP site, but it seems that could be solved.
Weird Web Links
Useless Information - Stuff
you never needed to know but your life would be incomplete without. Any
interest in Bat Bombs? Electric pickles? Ever hear of President
David Rice Atchison of the United States of America?
Google Zeitgeist -
Search patterns, trends, and surprises. This neat page changes every
month. What is everyone else searching for? If this is not enough,
try out the Lycos 50 Daily Report, listing
the top 50 items searched every day on Lycos - complete with analysis.
Yahoo! Buzz List for the top Yahoo!
selections.
Click
here for my web page with many more weird web links.
Click here
for UFO information.
Instant Messaging
I personnally do not use instant messaging very often. But when I do, I
get frustrated by the incompatibilities between each of the vendors. No
matter what instant messaging service that you use, it does not talk to users of
other services. Of course, whoever I want to talk with uses one of the
'other' services. Trillian solves
that problem. Get validated for any of the services that you want to
communicate with. Then use Trillian.
Trillian will talk with all of the major
services.
Games
Cursor Rabbit
Click here
for a real weird web site. Rabbit thinks that your cursor is a carrot and
tries to grab it. If he catches it, you have to really shake him off.
Sounds weird - but lots of fun.
Google Whacking
Google Whacking is a new internet game. All it requires is your browser and
an internet connection.
Here is what you do. Supply two words to the Google search engine (you can get
this from the CSS links home
page (just use the search box) ... Or go directly to
Google.
If you get exactly one entry, you win! This is far more difficult than it seems.
Most of the time, you will get either a zillion answers or nothing. Getting one
is really tough.
If you do get a result, celebrate! Then go to
googlewhack to
see if what you found is unique (of course, submit your find if it is not
already on this site).
Additional rules:
- Both of the words must be exist in the dictionary (click
here for an online dictionary)
- No quote marks.
- No automated tools
My kids ...
This is addicting. I refuse to participate - I do not have time. I want you to
have fun with this - but NOT before you get your homework done and something
productive done around the house (including having your rooms clean).
More Google
If you are having difficulties finding links in Google, maybe it is because
you aren't using your native language. Try one of these special sites:
Great Free Downloads
If it's a graphic, IrFanView can view it! Huge number of graphic
formats that can be displayed. Download the plug-ins for an even larger
number of graphic formats.
Very fast and easy to use.
Create slide shows, thumbnails. Basic image manipulation.
View from your scanner. 'Copy shop' printing.
Even plays sound and videos!
Imports over 340 graphic formats. Exports over 40 formats.
Excellent graphic browser. Create a web page. Create a contact
print.
Scan and view.
Very powerful and flexible screen capture. Capture an area from your screen.
Capture a window. Capture your screen.
Supports a wide variety of graphic formats. Nice graphic editor.
Graphic browser. Photo library. Image viewer.
Neat little Personal Information Manager. Notepad, calendar,
Go to Easy Noter's web site and they charge for this tool (Shareware).
This link gets you to the previous version - licensed by ZdNet as a give-away
advertisement.
Very powerful software firewall. I have always been a fan of ZoneAlarm
Pro. But the extensibility included in Outpost's rule-based structure
makes this a long term winner. Good information to show what is blocked
and what is passed.
Excellent 'learning mode' to customize itself for how you use your computer.
However, there are signs of immaturity. The system suggests configurations
for situations that it runs into. However, although extensive, the list of
formally named configurations is still limited. The system attempts to
'guess' what comes close to your needs when there is not already a specific
configuration.
Includes 'plug-ins' for content control, attachment filter, attack detection,
and window pop-up's. Most of these plug-ins are not as good as what you
can get in stand-alone applications. However, it does save resources to
include all of these under a single 'umbrella' resource. And integration
with your firewall does provide some unexpected benefits (for example, the
pop-up ad application removes the graphics from many of the ads that are sent
via email).
Ad killer (or whatever it is)
Everything you wanted to know about about an internet address. Plug in
the address and there are more fast 'who is' analysis than anywhere else.
RDNS, DNS trace, fingers, pings. URL decoders. Return not only the
source behind a web page, but capture the 'header' data. Analyze the type
of sites a web site comes from. Analyze email headers for sources.
Website crawling.
Complimentary capabilities are available at Sam Spade's web site (in case you
don't have your Sam Spade application with you). The site also contains a
lot of help information to learn how all of this protocol stuff works.
This is one that I just found. Your computer is probably not optimized
for the type of communication that you do. DFUeTweaker will let you define
your primary means of communicating, and will update system settings to
optimize.
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