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- Cool Websites and Tools [July 3]
- 4 Rotten Websites That Everyone Should Hate
- Convert Foreign Currencies The Easy Way With CurrencyConv [Windows Mobile]
- 5 Free Password Generators For Nearly Unhackable Passwords
- 10 Places To Get Cool Media Clips For PowerPoint Presentations
- Cue Online - Astonishingly Realistic 3D Pro Billiards Games
| Cool Websites and Tools [July 3] Posted: 03 Jul 2009 04:00 PM PDT
(1) DocShare - Document sharing community that enables everyone to easily find and share documents online. It's pretty much like YouTube for documents, you can search the documents by entering the title or browse through the categories. You can also go for the most popular, most viewed and the most discussed ones. Read more: DocShare: Find And Share Documents Easily (2) IconFinder - Great resource for finding icons online. It lets you search over 90,000 web icons by keywords or browse them by icon sets, tags and filter results by icon size and background color. Download any icon with one click in PNG or ICO format. Read more: IconFinder: Great Resource For Finding Icons (3) Mookal - Online calculator which lets you quickly calculate your monthly mortgage or refinance payments. The calculator has a clean design, user friendly interface and results are presented in easy-to-understand format along with detailed graphs and tables. Read more: Mookal: Best Refinance & Mortgage Calculator So Far (4) NutritionToolbox - Comprehensive food nutritional information database where you can look up information (e.g. calories, vitamins, minerals) on more than 40,000 foods including brand name grocery items and fast food products. Read more: NutritionToolbox: Food Nutritional Information Database (5) TwitLogo - Free logo generator that lets you create custom Twitter-like logos for use on your website or online profiles. Simply type in the text and click make to preview your logo. You can also customize logo size, logo text and background color. Read more: TwitLogo: Twitter Logo Generator
These are just half of the websites that we discovered in the last couple of days. If you want us to send you daily round-ups of all cool websites we come across, leave your email here. Or follow us via RSS feed. Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on Twitter ? Now you can follow MakeUseOf on Twitter too. Related posts
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| 4 Rotten Websites That Everyone Should Hate Posted: 03 Jul 2009 02:00 PM PDT
Sound hard to believe? While here at MakeUseOf, you’ll always find lots of great advice about cool websites, such as Aibek’s list of 40 unusual websites you should bookmark or his other article on 5 cool websites to procrastinate at work, in this article, we’re going to take a stroll down a few dark alleyways of the Internet; and carefully take a glimpse at the seedy underworld that exists there - like a growing, cancerous lump that you didn’t realize was there until it was too late. These are a list of 4 websites that you shouldn’t ever bookmark. Taking Pot Shots at Rotten WebsitesRevealing the slimy side of the Internet is dangerous business. Many people reading this may actually secretly hold some of the views or beliefs expressed on some of these websites. In the end, whenever you label anything as “rotten” - you’re going to tick certain people off. With that said, it’s also critically important in the world we live in to acknowledge and accept that hate exists in many forms all around us. And yes, some of us (myself included) have, at one time or another, allowed hatred toward a group of people to exist inside of us. Then, a day comes when you meet one person who falls within that category of people that you’ve built stereotypes in your mind about. That one person blows all of those stereotypes away - and suddenly you realize that the hatred you’d formed for that group is baseless and without any real foundation. Here at MakeUseOf, writers are from a very wide range of nationalities, religions and other groups. Every day, we collaborate and work together to present readers and the Internet community with unique ways they can “make use of” the Internet. In the spirit of that borderless cooperation, it’s time to break down a few more walls and expose some of the hate-filled or fanatical content that exists on the Internet today. Jew Watch - A Zionist Conspiracy or Anti-Semitism?One thing I’ve noticed about most “hater” websites is that they try their hardest to come across as educated, professional and scholarly. It’s sort of like they think if they throw enough sugar on the whole mix, people won’t realize the level of rotten website they’ve just landed on. Jew Watch was founded by James Stenzel, and is touted by the site’s “librarian” Frank Weltner of St. Louis, Missouri, as an “oasis of news for Americans who presently endure the hateful censorship of zionist occupation.”
In reality, this is one of the worst rotten websites on the web, not so much a “news” site, as it is a conspiracy theory site filled with empty propaganda and some of the most shoddy research in history. While the primary publicist and author at the site, Frank Weltner, points out that he doesn’t believe “all jews” are bad - Jew Watch is built around the strange theory that there is a well-organized, elite wealthy group of Jews trying to take over the world. This paranoid conspiracy theory mirrors other common ones such as MJ-12, the Illuminati, and many others. In the end, this fear-mongering does nothing more than encourage hatred toward an entire population based on nothing more than their heritage. Hatebook - Like There Isn’t Already Enough Hate in The World?We live in a world where there are shootings, domestic violence, child abuse and so many other atrocities, it seems inconceivable that someone would come up with the idea that what the world needs is a social network based on “hate.” That’s exactly what HateBook is all about.
HateBook is a Facebook copycat social network where anti-social folks can join together and celebrate their hateful behaviors. On HateBook, they can either tell secrets (or even lies) about someone. The concept of this particular rotten website is that the “enemies of your enemies are your friends.” In other words, if you’re able to find out who else hates the person that you hate, you can essentially team up against them. They even have a label for such groups called “hate-clans.” How lovely. ChildCare Action Project - A Cover for Orwellian Style CensorshipAs a writer and an avid reader, I have an especially strong aversion to censorship. I am, in fact, a religious person - but I also abhor zealous religious fanatics who turn spirituality into a badge of righteous indignation toward all things they deem “improper”. What is improper, exactly? By whose terms and by whose culture should those limits be drawn from? Certainly what’s considered moral in the U.S. may not be so in India or China - and vice versa. So, who gets to decide? Apparently, the founders of the CAP Project have given themselves that honor regarding the movies that people watch.
This fanatically religious organization wouldn’t have made the list of rotten websites if it simply provided full reviews of the parts of movies that some parents may consider “objectionable” for their children to watch. However, this organization takes it a step further and also offers W.I.S.D.O.M. rankings. These are rankings on whether the film has wanton violence, impudence or hate, sexual immorality, drugs or alcohol, offense to God, or murder or suicide. While these rankings sound semi-reasonable, the reasons they offer for degrading a film are ludicrous and a bit disturbing. For example, the site degraded the children’s film “Narnia” for attempted murder and planning of murder, a tame scene of childbirth, lying, and “unholy” mythical beasts and magical themes. Say what? Look, when I was a kid, I stood up with all of the other children and clapped for Tinkerbell to magically come back to life, and I turned out okay! Sort of… 88Tube - Just Innocent White Pride or Tasteless Hate?As usual, I saved the best (or I guess I should say “the worst”) for last. For those who don’t know about it, 88Tube is a white supremacy website where proud white dudes can express pride in their heritage by sitting in front of their computer watching such enlightening and uplifting videos as “Adolf Hitler talking to German Youth”, “The Revival of the Klu Klux Klan”, and “All Heil to the Great Nazi Power!!” Oh yeah - those sure make me proud to be white… Ugh.
Reviewing these rotten websites filled with either religious or racial fanaticism sure makes it apparent that we live in a very disturbing world, filled with people who are disillusioned - or maybe just delusional. In either case, the ease with which such ideologies can proliferate throughout the Internet is something every honorable citizen of the world should be concerned about. Have you ever come across fanatical websites on the Internet? What were they and how did you feel about them? Share your own opinions in the comment section below. Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/ Related posts
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| Convert Foreign Currencies The Easy Way With CurrencyConv [Windows Mobile] Posted: 03 Jul 2009 12:00 PM PDT
The last time I was in France, I had an approximate conversion rate in my head for French Francs to the United States Dollar. When I got back to the office and handed in my expense reports, I realized I was very wrong about my conversions. It turned out the rate I was using was wrong. So, every calculation I did was also wrong. To make a long story short, I wound up spending more than I was supposed. I won't say how much but someone was not happy writing that cheque! If I had this fancy smancy currency converter called CurrencyConv installed, I would have known that the cab driver was charging me way more than he should have! The small 38.4KB cab file needs to be downloaded to or copied to your Windows Mobile device. Then, you install it by clicking on the installer file like so:
It will ask you if you want to install the application on your device’s memory or on your storage card. The choice is yours and it really does not matter. Once the application is installed, you will find a new icon on your Start Menu like so:
Click on it to get started. By default, there are some wacky currencies that I have never encountered before. But don't let that discourage you – it only means that the program has every possible option you will ever need! And it converts 3 currencies at at time!
Simply pull down the drop down menus to select 3 currencies. Next, enter a value in any one of the three fields at the top. The program will then automatically convert that into the other two currencies. I was VERY impressed!
So now, I know 1000 French Francs is about $225, not $125
If you are on your computer, XE.com is the leading currency converter. Aibek wrote about it a long time ago, you should check it out. Do you have a similar app you are using on your mobile device? Well if you are you should definitely share with us in the comments! Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on Twitter ? Now you can follow MakeUseOf on Twitter too. Related posts
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| 5 Free Password Generators For Nearly Unhackable Passwords Posted: 03 Jul 2009 10:00 AM PDT
What characterizes a strong password? First of all, its length. The longer the password, the stronger it is and the longer it takes to be cracked. Secondly, the entropy or randomness of the generation process. If the attacker can make some statistical assumptions based on the method of generation, even a alphanumerical 8 character password can be cracked within hours. The third characteristic of password generator is trust. Do you trust that the password generator does not keep logs, do you trust that it doesn't have a backdoor? Lastly, do you have a secure communication channel between the generator and the receiver? Most of the online password generators fail one or more of these guidelines, and even software solutions have problems. The only completely secure method to generate passwords is to use an open-source generator stored on your computer, preferably running Linux. But even one of the website generated passwords is considerably more secure than any password you can come up with. Perfect Passwords
Steve Gibson's Perfect Passwords generator deserves the highest praise of all the solutions tested for this article. Besides the fact that Steve Gibson is a world renowned programmer, the algorithm used ensures a high level of entropy, and although there is no source code available to corroborate tech specs with the notes on the website, I personally trust it. The connection between the GRC server and your computer is secured by a SSL connection and the generator produces three strings at once: 64 random hexadecimal characters (0-9 and A-F), 63 random printable ASCII characters, 63 random alpha-numeric characters (a-z, A-Z, 0-9). The most secure of all is the ASCII string which contains numbers, letters and special characters. You can use any part, the complete string or even mix them to create an unique password. Your password will look something like: “4q){4′{y]SWt]796Ay|9= While such a password will work for a web-based service or email account, you aren't expected to remember it for your Windows account, it's simply too complicated. I personally use a 12 character hexadecimal string for my user account password, which I can remember without having to write it down, like FBA4F22489116F11F This too, can be cracked with Rainbow tables, but it will deter most guys without NSA-level knowledge and processing power. If you're asking yourself,”How I can use 12 random ASCII characters for every password I have?” Here's my system.
Editor’s note: IronKey is not free. It starts at $79. If you think that it’s worth the money to protect your privacy and security, then check it out. PCToolsPCTools – which provides different options for generating passwords: length, punctuation, numbers, letters etc. as well as a SSL secured connection. They also have a freeware, offline version of the generator. It's not open-source and the technical details are not available for inspection.
GoodPasswordGoodPassword – offers both a random password generator with some customization options and a "Leet" generator that "Leet Passwords are easy to remember acronym passwords generated by combining the first letter of each word, randomly changing the case, and replacing alphanumeric characters with their Leet (1337) equivalents, that is characters that look and/or sound the same". MulticiansMulticians – generates ten “pronounceable” passwords using a Java applet. It's not open-source but the source code is available for inspection. No SSL connection. For LinuxLinux users can use this command to quickly create a strong password:
You might want to read on through How To Create Strong Passwords That You Can Remember Easily, Securely Synchronize Your Browser Passwords With LastPass or maybe How To Password Protect GRUB Entries (Linux). Photo credit: InfoSec Blog Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/ Related posts
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| 10 Places To Get Cool Media Clips For PowerPoint Presentations Posted: 03 Jul 2009 08:00 AM PDT
Slideshare is a good place to see some really cool works of PowerPoint 'art'. Check under your favorite category and you will feel genuinely inspired to do things with the graphics, fonts, bullets, sounds and audio/video clips on the canvas of a PowerPoint slide. Whether you are on your first presentation or on your umpteenth, it's always better to be prepared with the right resources to back up your ideas for the PowerPoint slides. So here's looking at 10 websites for free supplies of media clips for PowerPoint. Sound ClipsWave Central
I wanted to end one of my presentations with a 'Beam me Up, Scotty' sound clip from Star Trek. I got the 11KB file from here. The site is not much to look at but it is a rich dump of sound clips from movies, TV, commercials and some special effects types too. The site has a search page, so it is easy to get to your sound clip if you know exactly what you are searching for. If you are searching for a 'something like this' kind of a sound, then it's a chore as all files are listed by name only. CCMixter
This is a community music site featuring remixes and samples licensed under Creative Commons licenses. It includes many tracks with non-commercial sharing licenses and some under sampling licenses. Users can of course submit their own music and remixes. The site has very good organization with a bunch of categories and filters. Also, the “Download this page” feature allows you to download your preferred collection all at once. Overall, this website has a very selective bunch of MP3s. It's not for the run-of-the-mill presenter but more for the guy who knows what he is doing with his music. Sound Bible
From prankish sounds (give the farts a miss in your PPTs) to cool sound effects, this site has a good collection. With the tiny sound clips you can add sound effects to your buttons or transitions. Sound clips fall under royalty-free and free sounds. A ‘pleasing to the eye’ look makes browsing complain-free. If you are looking for a specific sound and can't find it here, there's a simple request form for help. The Open Directory ProjectThe DMOZ page on music and audio loops is worth a look. Though some of the websites mentioned there might not be free. Movie ClipsYouTube
The ultimate reservoir of videos will hopefully not be short of the perfect clip you are looking for. With a large user base YouTube is the perfect place to find a video corresponding to the idea you want to project. For instance, a visual demo can help make your “How To” presentations to be more effective. Also read - 18 Free Ways To Download Any Video off the Internet Internet ArchiveThe Internet Archive's Moving Images library contains thousands of digital movies uploaded by Archive users which ranges from classic full-length films, to daily alternative news broadcasts, to cartoons and concerts. Many of these videos are available for free download. The videos are grouped under sub-collections like computers, sports, youth media, independent news, spirituality etc. If the video falls under Creative Commons, the logo will appear on the left hand side of the movie’s detail page. Channel Federator
Nothing breaks monotony like humor; and cartoons are the best agents for it. Channel Federator is like the Cartoon Network for the web. It is a community-driven website of independent animators. From hand drawn sketches to slick Flash based ones; the uniqueness is that none of the cartoon podcasts are longer than 5 minutes. The short clips are perfect for presentations. Atom
This is the human equivalent of the above animated one. From spoofs to extreme humor, the independent bunch of video creators takes a saucy look at everything. Right now, I am looking at a video on teamwork… Could be useful for the next HR meeting. The clips are brief and embeddable. One Web Resource for Comics Strips
This is not a top to bottom PowerPoint website, simply because clip arts and other graphics such as banners, bullets and buttons find other uses. But undoubtedly, this is a treasure trove. I find this website an invaluable source of free single panel comic strips. One Web Resource for Animations
The site features about 13,748 free animations grouped in 18 categories for use in presentations or other web media. The site also has a little one-page section on animation tutorials. The one negative was the non-functioning search bar. The internet is chock a bloc with freebies. The human problem is laying our hands on the right one at the right time. And with the boss breathing down your neck for the Monday morning presentation, speed becomes a vital though an inhibiting factor towards creating a great presentation. Let's hope these ready at hand resources give that bit of breathing space to let your inspired mind flow… and kickass. Which free websites do you use to extend your PowerPoint presentation's capabilities? Present us with your options. Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/ Related posts
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| Cue Online - Astonishingly Realistic 3D Pro Billiards Games Posted: 03 Jul 2009 06:05 AM PDT
One group of games that is still missing from our passive sportive arsenal here are pro billiards and snooker games. And that is a real shame because those sports might just be some the geekiest sports known to man. Every single shot in those games is based on an insight or ‘feeling’ for the fundamentals of geometry and physics. Ergo, not to be discluded on a site like this. Today, we try to make it up to you. Reader, meet Cue Online. I’m sure you’ll get along really well. Cue OnlineCue Online was released earlier this year by GameCampus.com, the guys behind soul mate MMORPG Asda Story, and is without any doubt, one of the best pool games out there. Since then, it has received several nominations — amongst which, one for “Best Game of the Month” by the Korean Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Cue Online allows you to enjoy games of eightball, nineball and snooker, accompanied by astonishing 3D graphics — but great graphics isn’t even the trump card of Cue Online. The game is based on one of the most realistic engines on the market, the physics of which allows you to manipulate every detail of the game, even pull off pro billiards trick shots. Ultimate Pro Billiards Realism and ManipulationAs would be expected, the player can control aim and power but in Cue Online, you can also adjust the angle of your shots and the exact place to hit the ball, to give it a spin or to make it jump.
Apart from how the shot is exercised, the movement of the ball gets influenced by a few other factors like the realistic cloth friction. Make the sum of all this, and you’ve got a first class realistic pool game that will satisfy even the most critical of minds. Playing SkillsDuring gameplay, the player can improve upon five different skills; power, spin, push, pull and masse. Unlike most skill-based games (mostly MMORPGs), you don’t get better only by using them often, but also by really learning how to use them well.
It is to be expected that skill would play a major role in a precision pro billiards sports game like Cue Online, but the game’s system provides various possibilities of gameplay. You’ll notice that each player is unique, with different strengths, weaknesses and a defining playing style, just like in real life. If you’re up for a great game of eightball, nineball, or snooker, you must download this game. Let us know what you think about it, or which of the 3 games you enjoy playing. Also, let us know about the other sources of billiard games. Don’t be shy, the comments section is below.
Did you like the post? Please do share your thoughts in the comments section! New on MakeUseOf ? Get cheat sheets and cool PDF guides @ www.makeuseof.com/makeuseof-downloads/ Related posts
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Anyone who has spent any time simply browsing the Internet for interesting things to read quickly realizes that while the Internet is certainly filled with interesting and fascinating websites covering all sorts of useful topics, it’s also overrun by countless rotten websites that promote things like racial hatred, anti-semitism and even encourages fanatical censorship.
It’s summer in the northern hemisphere and lots of people are taking their summer vacations and are off to travel around the world. Have you ever found yourself in a foreign country and you weren't 100% sure of the 
Maybe this will help some one (or lots of people) out there have a much better trip!
In this increasingly hostile computer environment, it is essential to have a strong password for everything. Whether it's email, computer account or online banking, using your cat's name as a password is a very bad idea. And if you're afraid of not going remembering it because it's too long and complicated, I'm going to show you how I do it.
Remember Al Gore's PowerPoint show? Well, it went and won the Oscars. Okay, 'The Inconvenient Truth' was more about alarming statistics than the Microsoft Office application. But it did show that data is one part of the story. How you weave media clips for PowerPoint into powerful presentation is another. There is a formulaic method behind 
We’ve covered our fair share of sports games here on MakeUseOf, including 
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