June 29 2007 COOLSITES newsletter # 119 by Mark Donaldson

I have published the June 29 2007 COOLSITES newsletter # 119 by Mark Donaldson.

The following is an excerpt from this weeks newsletter. To see the full newsletter with all of the COOLSITES links please click and bookmark this link: http://luem42.googlepages.com/coolsites.html and check it each week. Thank you. Mark.


June 29 COOLSITES Newsletter # 119 by Mark Donaldson

Semper Gratis (forever free)

Wherever you go if you see the user name LUEM42 that's me

COOLSITES is a list of safe, fun, useful, informative and just plain cool websites and programs that are FREE, FREE and FREE. All of the programs and websites I list are free. If I list anything that is so good but isn't free I will list the price with it.


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Pirillo's Picks for February 13 2007

"And if you think that's a lot of links, you should see how many http://luem42.com/ collects every day. It's enough to make you wanna never leave the house again as long as you live" Yours Digitally, Chris Pirillo http://chris.pirillo.com/


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Clif Notes Newsletter, Feb 2007 http://freewarewiki.com/ClifNotes

"The COOLSITES Newsletter - find the coolest links here. This fella named Mark Donaldson has been sending out his lists of cool sites since 2003. I'd never heard of him before last week. One day I was Googling myself to see who was posting links to my newsletter, and I found his website. I guess he's mentioned my newsletter at least 3 times. I like the COOLSITES website too, but I think it could use some reformatting to make it a bit easier to read. What I really like is the content there. Mark must really read a lot of stuff on the web and he takes the best links then tells you about them." http://freewarewiki.com/CoolSitesNewsletter


Welcome to Clif Notes Newsletter June 24, 2007 http://freewarewiki.com/ClifNotesNewsletter070624

Thanks for reading my newsletter. Each week, I will have freeware reviews, tips, tricks, news, and lots of cool websites for you to check out.

I hope you enjoy this week's letter. Be sure to write me for advice or yell at me for messing up.

# REVIEWS
1. Plasma Pong - a new twist on the oldest video game
2. TubeSucker - a unique way to snag and play videos
3. Unplug - download the hidden media on web pages
4. YouRipper - download videos or listen to Shoutcast music
5. SyncToy - Folder Sychronization Tool
6. Chromium B.S.U. - fast paced space shooter
7. Old Newsletter

# TIPS AND FEEDBACK
1. Startup Monitor - an old solution for unexpected startups
2. What are M4A files?
3. Internet Fixes Weekend Windup
4. Comments last week

# COOL WEBSITES
1. The OSSwin project: Open Source for Windows!
2. Laughing Girl - she watched last week's video
3. Eagle VS Fox - who wins?
4. Starship Groove - computer animated music
5. CoolSites Newsletter this week
6. Websites I've visited recently

# NEW NEWS
1. SnapFiles.com - new and updated freeware
2. News from Sarah in Tampa
3. Security news from Malware Advisor
4.A view from CyberNirvana

# OTHER STUFF
1. Chatting at FreewareWiki
2. Frapper - you people live all over the world!
3. Write your own review
4. What do you have to say?

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Security News

No big news this week. Mark.

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Security Links

Are you part of a botnet. Kim's Tips: http://www.komando.com/tips/index.aspx?id=3086

E-mail Privacy Gets a Win in Court: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1636024,00.html?cnn=yes

K9 Web Protection - Free Internet Filter and Parental Control Software: http://www.k9webprotection.com/

New. HackCleaner 2.0: http://www.geekclaw.com/index.html

New. RunScanner - Free check of running and installed components for malware, spyware and other problems: http://www.runscanner.net/

New. SysProt AntiRootkit 1.0.0.4 Beta: http://www.freewarefiles.com/program_9_90_33534.html

New. Xidie Security Suite: http://www.stegano.ro/

RealPlayer, Helix Player vulnerable to attack. Critical flaw could allow attackers to gain control of a user's PC using a buffer overflow vulnerability: http://www.infoworld.com/article/07/06/28/RealPlayer-Helix-Player-vuln...ble_1.h

Security Watch- Exploiting the Web for fun and profit. Mpack is the latest among many such tools for spreading malware on the Internet: http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-3513_7-6745285-1.html?tag=nl.e404

Stock Spammers Regroup. last week, inboxes were flooded with a new mutation of stock spam that evaded filters. Hey I got one of those. Mark.: http://www.forbes.com/technology/2007/06/26/internet-stock-spam-tech-c...g_0626s

Ultimate Free Guide to Stop Viruses and Spyware ~ Chris Pirillo: http://chris.pirillo.com/2007/06/23/the-ultimate-free-guide-to-stop-vi...es-and-

Update. a-squared Free v3.0.0.334 (formerly a² free) Freeware! A2 is a free of charge Anti-Trojan, Anti-Worm, Anti-Dialer and Anti-Spyware Software - optimal protection: http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/free/

Update. a-squared HiJackFree 3.00.382: http://www.hijackfree.com/en/

Update. GMER 1.0.13.12540 rootkit detector: http://www.gmer.net/index.php

Update. Plax Network Suite v1.1.0: http://www.bestsecuritytips.com/content+index.id+18.htm

Update. RemoveIT Pro v4 - SE 6.24.2007 Powerful Antivirus software: http://incodesolutions.com/spyware_antivirus_malware_adware.php

Update. RogueRemover 1.20: http://www.malwarebytes.org/rogueremover.php

Update. SUPERAntiSpyware Free 3.9.1008 AntiAdware. AntiSpyware. AntiMalware.: http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispyware.html

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"Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity"

In the November 2004 COOLSITES Newsletter I recommended that everyone should read John Stossel's book "Give Me a Break". Now he has follow up called "Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity". It's filled with counter intuitive common sense truths. The following is from the book's jacket cover.

"MYTH OR TRUTH
Women are terrible drivers. DDT saves lives. Global warming will destroy the Earth. We are drowning in garbage. Having kids is good for your marriage. Think twice before you answer! "Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity" is a jungle gym for your mind. Award-winning anchorman John Stossel demonstrates that what we believe is often just wrong. Find out what's true and what's not in this thought provoking follow up to "Give Me a Break". Would you believe that price gouging is good for consumers? Public schools don't need more money? A minimum wage hurts poor people? There is no cancer epidemic? Sounds crazy, right? But consumer advocate and 20/20 anchor John Stossel backs it up. He explains that much of what we hear and what the media say are myths. How much stupidity do you swallow? Do you buy bottled water instead of drinking from the tap? Do you try to stay thin by not eating late at night? Do you think that men are better drivers than women? Maybe you pay attention when a TV expert tells you what stocks to buy and when you hear that video games cause violence. You worry that teachers aren't paid fairly. Prepare to be surprised and outraged as you learn how conventional wisdom is often wrong. Whether it's a myth, a lie, or just plain stupid, consumer advocate and best-selling author John Stossel is on the case. Down-to-earth and sometimes in-your-face, he's not afraid to shovel through a load of garbage to get to the truth! JOHN STOSSEL is the anchor for 20/20. He has received nineteen Emmy awards and been honored five times for excellence in consumer reporting by the National Press Club. His book "Give Me a Break" was a national bestseller. A graduate of Princeton University, Stossel lives in New York City. At www.abcnews.com/2020 you can contact John and meet the people described in this book."

Here's a counter intuitive that you won't find in his book. Putting a size limit on fishing and throwing back the smaller ones just puts evolutionary pressure on the species to become smaller. By taking the big fish only you remove the big fish genes from the gene pool and give the little fish genes an advantage. What should be done is the little adults should be harvested so the big adults pass on their genes. But since it's impractical to tell the age of the fish we just throw back the small ones. The same thing is happening with every species we harvest from the oceans. This is probably the best argument for discontinuing ocean harvesting of all species and farm them instead. Then the breeders will breed them bigger. Mark.

November 2004 COOLSITES Newsletter http://luem42.googlepages.com/nov04.html

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WWHHAATT?

I saw a new advertisement on TV with Gary Coleman hawking a loan service called CASHCALL that charges a annual precentage rate of (get ready for it) 99.25%. I don't care where you are but that is called usury (The act of lending money at an exorbitant rate of interest). This is what their webpage says:

"Here are First Bank of Delaware's current rates. Please be aware that not all applicants will qualify for every loan product or the lowest interest rate for a particular loan product. Some applicants will not qualify for any of the products. The lowest rates and higher loan products are reserved for customers with excellent credit. First Bank of Delaware reserves the right to change the rates and loan products listed below without notice.

Loan Product Interest Rate Annual Percentage Rate Number of Payments Payment Amount
$5,075 Loan APR 59.95% 84 Payments of $254.03 a month (That equals 21,338.52. Mark.)
$2,600 Loan APR 99.25% 42 Payments of $216.55 a month (That equals 9,095.10. Mark.)
$1,075 Loan APR 96.78% 42 Payments of $83.89 a month (That equals 3,523.38. Mark.)

If your loan application is approved, there will be a $75 origination fee imposed in connection with your loan, which will be disclosed to you before you sign your promissory note." http://www.cashcall.com/General/Rates.aspx

I think John Stossel should do an expose on all of those legal loan shark services. Mark.


Again WWHHAATT?

Paris Hilton is trying to reinvent herself but she's doing it by lying. This is from The Smoking Gun News.

"We hate to call the "reformed" Paris Hilton a liar, but she was conning Larry King last night when she denied ever using drugs. In fact, Hilton has committed to videotape incidents of her drug usage. We've gathered some of those revealing hash/pot/Quaalude/mushroom clips here:
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0628071parishilton1.html

Speaking of the former convict, King never got around to asking Hilton about some of her previous racist comments. Again, let's go to her videotape: http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2007/0627072paris1.html "

Paris Hilton opens up on drugs, jail and God. Asked three times if she has ever used or been addicted to drugs, she replied flatly, "No".: http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/06/27/paris.interview/index.html

Good luck Paris. Mark.

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Buggy Update

One of my favorite freeware programs issued an update last week that was buggy. I noticed the funny things it did. If you updated Netmeter to version 1.1.1 you should update to this week's version 1.1.2. I don't go online without this program. Mark.

Update. NetMeter 1.1.2 (stable) released: http://www.metal-machine.de/readerror/

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The best online TV schedule guide

I use Zap2it as my online TV guide. It's fast, even on dialup, customizable and free. I will be adding it to the COOLSITES Toolbar (http://luem42.ourtoolbar.com/) daily links.

http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/
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COOLSITES 147 cool links

I harvest what I believe to be the best links from the best sources that are safe, fun, informative, useful and just plain cool. I categorize them and edit their descriptions for clarity.

To see the full newsletter with all of the COOLSITES links please click and bookmark this link: http://luem42.googlepages.com/coolsites.html and check it each week. Thank you. Mark.