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March 27, 2002
Are you worried that your internet connection is less than secure? In today's
world of constantly advancing technologies and equally nasty viruses or
'scanners', I like to occasionally test my connection just to see where I stand.
Steve Gibson has a security issue related site at
http://grc.com/default.htm which does a
pretty good job of testing your system for possible intrusion and explains it
all to you in a no-nonsense every-man sort of way that even I could understand
(well, most of it). There is a free downloadable test (very small, about 20 kbs)
about halfway down the page under the heading 'Hot Spots' (imagine) called "SheildsUP!"
that will quickly look your computer and it's connection over WITHOUT snatching
any private info, then summarizes what it found AND lets you know what can or
should be done about it. A very useful site, though I'm sure there are others.
Let me know if you know one we should add to our list.
Say you travel quite a bit, and your tired of fiddling around with the radio
looking for a good station where ever you happen to be. Just as you might
download a map to the locations along your route, you can just as easily get a
listing of stations at
Radio-Locator (http://www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/home).
Search by city, state, am or fm, or call letters to find just what you're
looking for. On a side note, I don't know how many of you are aware, but many
radio stations worldwide broadcast on the internet now, and in every imaginable
format. I was listening to stations in Australia the other day just to see what
the latest music there sounds like. This site, as well as many others, (I'll try
to list a few on the web site) can take you to radio Moscow, Hong Kong or
Hollywood just as easily as you might switch from 'I Love Lucy' reruns to 'The
Food Network'.
Speaking of entertainment (loosely), here's a site for all you movie buffs out
there. The Internet Movie Database (http://us.imdb.com/)
has a searchable list of over 250,000 movies from cinema's start to Sunday
nite's Oscar winners (Does Oscar love Opie?). When found, you can check out the
plots, actors & other credits, sometimes pictures and posters, as well as other
similar movies you might have missed and would enjoy. (Personally, I found most
of the movies I searched for except Blackula. Hmmmm. Maybe it only lists Good
movies) Totally useless content really, but I tend to like movies like that as
well.
The IUMA, or Internet Underground Music
Association (http://www.iuma.com/) is a compilation of little known
musicians/groups with tons of downloadable material in mp3 format. They have
music ranging from rock to classical to country to latin. Having lived in a
small town most of my life and at the mercy of top 40 format radio, it's really
very interesting to hear what the rest of the world might be listening to and at
this very well put together and easily maneuverable site it's a real pleasure to
do so. If you are a music lover and have a little time, I think you'll like it.
Pass The Shareware
(http://www.passtheshareware.com/c-txtwp.htm) has a lot of very cool
utilities and writing utensils you could use to make a web page, publish a
newsletter, write a report or resume, or just keep up with your daily events,
and all for FREE! I noticed a couple of spellcheckers on there as well, not that
I'd neede anyting lik dat.
Comedyzine.com (http://www.comedyzine.com/index.html)
has just about everything to tickle the funny bone from 'Signs There is
Something Wrong With Your Crematory' to 'Little Known Conspiracies' and
a Comedians Referral Service (JUST what I need). I did notice a possible
suggestion concerning Kmart: "In an effort to increase revenues, Kmart will
change their name to Walmart".
I don't really know what the heck
zthing.com is all about, but there was this 'Bad Casting' page
(http://www.zthing.com/series.php3?series=badcasting#badcasting) that gave
an amusing few minutes of what-ifs (Keanu Reaves in Gladiator?). Check it out.
(Why, because it's there)
My last entry this week is an oldie-but-goodie.
The Dialectizer (http://www.rinkworks.com/dialect/)
will, once you enter an active web address, change the dialect to another,
possibly more interesting tone. They offer a variety of options including
Redneck, Jive, Cockney, Elmer Fudd, Swedish Chef, Moron, Pig Latin, or Hacker.
You'll just have to try it, as I don't think I have the words to describe it.
Our Joke of the week: Little Johnny was talking to a couple of boys in the
schoolyard. Each was bragging about how great their fathers are. The first one
said: "Well, my father runs the fastest. He can fire an arrow, and start to run,
I tell you, he gets there before the arrow!" The second one said: "Ha! You think
that's fast! My father is a hunter. He can shoot his gun and be there before the
bullet!" Little Johnny listened to the other two boys and shook his head. He
then said: "Sorry, dudes... but MY DAD is the fastest. He's a civil servant. He
stops working at 4:30,... and he's home by 3:45!"
Give me a glance at surf.to/nethotspots
or a piece of your mind at
[email protected].
I hope you have a great week, and, as Will Rogers said, never miss a good chance
to shut up. I think I will. Take care.
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