November 20 2009 COOLSITES Newsletter #244 Mark Donaldson

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I have published the November 20 2009 COOLSITES Newsletter #244 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.


November 20 2009 COOLSITES Newsletter #244 Mark Donaldson

Now with online Google Translator


Major changes to this newsletter are coming soon

In June Google sent me a notice that the move would happen in a couple of weeks. It's now been 5 months and it still hasn't happened yet.

Google is discontinuing Google Pages and will be moving my archive to Google Sites. However their hosting rules will also change. My html files will not be allowed due to "security reasons". This means I would have to use Google's online webpage creation program which would be more time consuming for me and bigger webpages that load slower for you.

I have checked other free hosts and can not find any that will allow me to continue as before without cost. Therefore I will have to change things. What this will mean for subscribers is very little difference. What this will mean for non-subscribers who view the newsletter online and people accessing old newsletters, "Just The Links" and "Specialized Search Engines" webpages may be drastic. I will keep you informed. Mark.


Subscribers who don't receive the newsletter, due to stupid filters, may use a private link to download the newsletter in the text ( .txt ), html ( .html ) and the MS Word Doc ( .doc ) format in a zip file. I will upload the zip files to my archive site right after I send out the newsletter on Friday morning. If a subscriber doesn't receive the newsletter, by 9am ET, they can quickly download it, unzip it and peruse it offline. You can also read it online from there.

If you are a subscriber and don't know the private link you can email me for it. These zip files are less than 40K which is smaller than the 100K or more for the newsletter.
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Semper Gratis (forever free) of cost

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.

My website is Dialup Friendly. All pages except "Just The Links" and "Specialized Search Engines" load up in under 15 seconds.

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

"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


Clif is no longer doing his newsletter. He is writing for others. You can find all of his past newsletters here: http://freewarewiki.com/NewsLetters and his writings here: http://techie-buzz.com/author/clif-notes
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Security News and Links

I get these links and news from good sources however I do not test the programs myself because I just don't have the time. The definitive source of rogue info is Spyware Warrior- Rogue-Suspect Anti-Spyware Products & Web Sites: http://www.spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm





They Tried To Scam Me

No new scam emails this week.


Apple updates Safari for security: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=487490839-be56918137808c8d29d6177...a633af-

Facebook Groups Hijacked by Control Your Info Intruder: http://go.infopackets.com/e20091113-08

FBI says hackers targeting law firms, PR companies: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hsG8BcireHiOQHAdCIW9...2KzcgD9

Flash flaw puts most sites, users at risk, say researchers: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/print/9140768/Flash_flaw_puts_m..._sites_

How to Spot a Holiday Scam -- and Find Genuine Bargains. Scambusters.org: http://www.scambusters.org/holidayscams3.html

Microsoft patching zero-day Windows 7 SMB hole: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=487490833-be56918137808c8d29d6177...a633af-

Online gangs cash in on swine flu: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AF2YU20091116

Recognizing phishing e-mails: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=491258484-be56918137808c8d29d6177...a633af-

RIM security chief sees smartphone attacks on horizon: http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5AG5BQ20091117

RSA reveals details behind re-shipping scam: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=487490835-be56918137808c8d29d6177...a633af-

Spot phishing e-mails: http://ct.cnet-ssa.cnet.com/clicks?t=488612611-be56918137808c8d29d6177...a633af-

Top e-tailers profit from billion-dollar Web scam. Webloyalty, Affinion, and Vertrue 'trick' buyers into entering their e-mail address just before they complete purchases at Orbitz Priceline.com Buy.com 1-800 Flowers Continental Air: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10399880-93.html?tag=nl.e404

Update. COMODO Internet Security 3.13 Firewall + AntiVirus Suites: http://personalfirewall.comodo.com/

Update. GMER 1.0.15.15227 Rootkit Detector and Remover: http://www.gmer.net/

Update. PC Tools Firewall Plus 6.0.0.84: http://www.pctools.com/firewall/

Update. Spyware Terminator 2.6.4 realtime spyware protection: http://www.spywareterminator.com/
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Consumer News and Links


Just another good reason to subscribe and get this info before it expires



From: http://www.consumerworld.org/



FED Issues Rules Requiring Your Consent for Banks to Charge Debit Card Overdraft Fees
How the Opt-in Overcharge Fee Will Work
New Federal Overdraft Rule Doesn't Go Far Enough
50 Best Inventions of 2009
Undercover Test: Real Rubies or "Composite" Rubies?
Are Those "Green" Products Really Environmentally Friendly?
These College Towns have Very Affordable Housing
10 Myths about Energy Use According to Conservative Think Tank
Consumer Reports' Recommendations for Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
AA Employee Loses Job After Kindly Responding to Blogger's Complaints
It is a Good Year for Bargain Wines
Getting Windows 7 For Less
Card Issuers Continue Dinging Good Customers
Get Ready for HD Quality Cell Calls
Should You Switch from Credit to Debit Cards?
Donating to Charity in Tough Times
Time to Begin Year-end Tax Planning
Target Settles with NJ over Expired Products
NY-AG Settles with CVS over Expired Products
2009 Gift Card Study
10 Rights that Smartphones Users Should Demand
10 Ways Credit Card Issuers are Still Sticking it to Customers
How Wal-mart Plans to Tackle Black Friday Crowds
Beware the Latest Facebook Scam (video)
YouTube Testing "Skip" Buttons on Some Ads
Debit Cards Have Some Risks
46% of Digital Converter Coupons Go Unused
A Bathroom Scale that Tweets Your Weight on Twitter
Comparing Online "Make a Will" Services
Rules for the New and Repeat Homebuyer Tax Credits
Latest Place for Ads: Your Windows 7 Desktop!
$35 Blank DVD Claims to Last 1000 Years
Hottest/Hardest Toy to Find : Zhu Zhu Pets (mechanical hamsters)
Satirical Video of the Real Characters that Shop at Wal-mart [some photos R-rated]
We Lose Our Financial Savvy After Age 53




California targets TVs to lower electricity demand: http://apnews.myway.com/article/20091118/D9C214FO0.html

Consumer Reports. Should You Buy a 'Derivative Model' HDTV. non-standard models of HDTVs: http://blogs.consumerreports.org/electronics/2009/11/derivative-lcd-pl...a-tvs-r

Extended warranties stink. Here's the trick: http://lmax.clarkhoward.com/t/13285951/729041/95737/0/

Free mortgage fraud watch. This free website can help protect you: http://lmax.clarkhoward.com/t/13285951/729041/95736/0/

Free piece of chocolate cake at Romano’s Macaroni Grill. PDF coupon: http://www.freestufftimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/freestufftimes-cake.pdf

Most reliable vehicles. See where all the major automakers rank: http://lmax.clarkhoward.com/t/13285951/729041/95745/0/

Mouse Print. How Cheesy Can You Get: http://www.mouseprint.org/

NICB's VINCheck is a service provided to the public to assist in determining if a vehicle has been reported as stolen, but not recovered, or has been reported as a salvage vehicle by cooperating NICB members: https://www.nicb.org/theft_and_fraud_awareness/vincheck/vincheck

Steaz Iced Tea Get One FREE: http://www.steaz.com/promotion/FreeSteaz/index.html

Top 10 Tips to Bag a Bargain on Black Friday: http://www.consumerworld.org/pages/shoptips.htm

Use Your Medical Benefits Before Year-End to Save Big Bucks. how to maximize your health benefits: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703808904574527724157898130.html

Wal-Mart to keep stores open 24 hours to ease Black Friday - USATODAY.com: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2009-11-11-walmart-bla...friday_
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Windows Secrets Newsletter


Free content posted on Nov. 19, 2009:


TOP STORY
By woody Leonhard
Your Windows 7 migration problems solved
Why does the Windows 7 installer freeze?
Hey, where did Windows 7 put my games?
How many upgrades am I allowed per install disc?
Can I use the OEM version of Windows 7?
Why can't I change Starter Edition's wallpaper?
Can I upgrade 32-bit Win7 to the 64-bit version?

KNOWN ISSUES
By Dennis O'Reilly
Dumping Java cache improves browser performance
Manually install network-discovery utility
Who needs Quick Launch? Pinning's simpler

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New "Twilight" movie gives a howl to cotton



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Windows utility repairs corrupted system files
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Should you move to 64-bit Windows 7?
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XP update conflicts with popular video adapters
XP kernel patch crashes some graphics cards
Apple releases security fixes for Safari
Trojan claims to be Microsoft virus alert
Some operating-system upgrades can be painful
Is it time to install Vista Service Pack 2?
October Windows patch blue screens some PCs



Get our paid content by making any contribution. There's no fixed fee! Contribute whatever it's worth to you Readers who make a financial contribution of any amount by Nov. 11, 2009, will immediately receive the latest issue of our full, paid newsletter and 12 months of new paid content. Pay as much or as little as you like — we want as many people as possible to have this information

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Make My Start Page Your Home Page I have updated it on 6-25-2009 with Twitter

Try my start page and make it your home page by clicking "Click here to make my start page your default homepage".

It has the following convenient logins and links such as: Google Mail Login, Yahoo Mail Login, Windows Live MSN HotMail Login, Froogle Price Search, Google Maps, MySpace Login, Lockergnome Cool Web Links, Weather Radar, BugMeNot, E! Online, Zap2it TV Guide, Snopes, Scambusters, YouTube, FaceBook, Twitter and links to my webpages. You can also google the web or my website. It also has a link for your suggestions so you can help me make it better.

The best thing about it is it's simple, small and loads up on dialup in less than one second. Check it out today at: http://luem42.googlepages.com/start.html
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COOLSITES 91 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. I may make comments about the links but you will know because I always sign them with "Mark".

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.