Cool / Useful / Favorite Websites
Copyright © 2006 - 2008 By
First Draft –
For presentation at the following computer clubs:
· At the
· And at the
· And at the April 6, 2007 and April 4, 2008 monthly
MAIN MEETINGs of the Amateur Computer Group Of New Jersey (ACGNJ) (http://www.acgnj.us/) in
· And at the May 9, 2007 monthly meeting of the
New Jersey Computer Club (NJCC) (http://www.njcc.org/)
in
· And at the (xxx Date xxx) monthly meeting of the Hunterdon (County, NJ) Computer Club (HCC) (http://www.hunterdoncomputerclub.org/index.html?hccmain.htm&2) in Flemington, NJ
This handout, as well as handouts from some of PSN’s other courses and presentations, can be found under the “Free Courses” link at http://excelvbaprogramming.homestead.com/.
NOTE: Items shown in RED are among the favorites that Paul plans to demonstrate.
Abstract
COOL /
USEFUL / FUN WEBSITES
At our (xxx insert October 17, 2008 or other meeting date here xxx) meeting, Paul S. Natanson will show some of his favorite websites. The list includes sites devoted to games, games, computer help and support, genealogical research, research, discount travel, unclaimed property listings, Internet speed testers, job hunting, lottery results, real estate property values, maps and aerial photos, legal stuff, salary surveys, medical information, and more.
Members are encouraged to suggest other websites for Paul to show, by sending an email to (xxx instead of posting my email address, I prefer posting an ACGNJ address xxx).
Meanwhile, you can download Paul's speaking notes and favorite weblinks by going to http://excelvbaprogramming.homestead.com/ and clicking on the FreeCourses link.
Cool / Useful / Favorite Websites
· Dictionaries, encyclopedias, acronym finders, language translators, etc: 210
+ Acronyms and abbreviations
- http://www.acronymfinder.com/ (Example: NNTO)
- The free dictionary: http://acronyms.thefreedictionary.com/
- AbbreviationZ..... http://www.searchenginejournal.com/?p=4039
+ Dictionaries
- The free dictionary: www.thefreedictionary.com
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary (includes you-hear-it audio
pronunciation)
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?book=Dictionary
- Dictionary.com – includes a daily crossword puzzle: www.dictionary.com
- http://dictionary.reference.com/
- http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/error/Error.aspx?mesgid=404
- http://www.yourdictionary.com/index.shtml
+ Wikipedia – An open source multilingual
encyclopedia, edited by its users.
http://www.wikipedia.org/
+ Language translators
- http://dictionary.reference.com/
- Babelfish:
Translate a block of text: Babel
Fish - http://babelfish.altavista.com/
+ Spanish – English
- http://www.freedict.com/onldict/spa.html
- http://dictionaries.travlang.com/SpanishEnglish/
+ Japanese – English
- http://www.freedict.com/onldict/jap.html
+ Teen slang (including text messaging abbreviations): http://www.urbandictionary.com/
+ Abbreviations and acronyms for text and instant messaging, chat rooms, teen talk, etc.
- Net lingo: http://www.netlingo.com/emailsh.cfm
- Webopedia: http://www.webopedia.com/quick_ref/textmessageabbreviations.asp
- TechDictionary: http://techdictionary.com/chat.html
- WebWasp: http://www.webwasp.co.uk/define/SMS-text/index.php
- AboutDotCom (FamilyInternet):
http://familyinternet.about.com/od/sharingonline/a/acronyms.htm
- Many more: Do Google search for - - - text message abbreviation dictionary
· Scan your computer for software that is not up to date: 210
+ Free scan of your PC for old or out-of-date software: http://secunia.com
· Security: Free Scans for Viruses, Spyware, Adware,
Ineffective
Firewalls, Etc.: 210
+ Microsoft
“One Care” free virus scan (a “full service scan”) from Microsoft “One-Care”:
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/products/computer/safetyscanner.mspx
+ Microsoft
“Malicious Software Removal Tool” (free)
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx
+ Other Microsoft “Protect” websites - - -
- Microsoft “Protect” home page: http://www.microsoft.com/protect/default.mspx
- Microsoft security products and services - - -
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/products/computer/default.mspx
+ Spyware and adware scan from WebRoot: http://www.webroot.com/
+ Gibson
Research - Free scan for open ports and ineffective firewalls
http://www.grc.com/default.htm
+ Free
Security Vulnerability Safety Scan:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/windows_live_safety_center.mspx
+ PCWorld
security articles (Show some of your hidden passwords:
http://find.pcworld.com/50580
+ Microsoft
videos (free downloads) – Computer Security At Home
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/videos/downloads.mspx
+ To find others, do a Google search for - - - free virus scan
· Free anti-spyware, anti-adware, anti-virus, firewalls, pop-up blockers, etc.: 210
+ Microsoft’s Windows Defender (anti-spyware and anti-adware) - http://blogs.msdn.com/securitytipstalk/archive/2007/01/04/download-the-new-version-of-windows-defender.aspx
+ Spybot’s Search-And-Destroy (anti-spyware and anti-adware) - http://www.spybot.info/
+ LavaSoft’s free Ad-aware (anti-spyware and anti-adware) - http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
+ ThreatFire3. Rated Editor’s Choice on Page 33 of the
11-20-07 issue of PC Magazine.
http://www.go.pcmag.com/threatfire3
or
http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,2191333,00.asp
+ Google toolbar, free (includes a pop-up blocker) – http://toolbar.google.com/
+ Yahoo toolbar, free (includes a pop-up blocker) – http://toolbar.yahoo.com/
+ AVG 7.5 free anti-virus (by GriSoft): http://free.grisoft.com/doc/1
+ Avast 4 free anti-virus: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html
+ Comodo free firewall: http://www.personalfirewall.comodo.com/
+ ZoneAlarm (by Zone Labs) free firewall: http://www.zonelabs.com/zonealarm
· Scams, cons, hoaxes, consumer fraud, urban legends, & rumors on the internet: 210
+ Snopes (urban legends): http://www.snopes.com/
+ Report (and read about) consumer rip-offs: http://www.ripoffreport.com/
· Google downloads (toolbars, pop-up blockers, search engine, maps, etc.: 210
+ http://www.google.com/downloads/
· Maps, Arial Photos, Printed Directions, Etc. All of the following are free. : 210
+ Mapquest (includes aerial views) - http://www.mapquest.com/
+ GoogleMaps (includes aerial views) - http://maps.google.com/
- Example:
Directions from Boston MA to Paris France say “swim Atlantic ocean”.
- To use Google Maps “Street View”, go to http://maps.google.com/ and
click
the StreetView button near top right of window.
+ Google Street View - - - http://maps.google.com/help/maps/streetview/
- To use GoogleStreetView, go to http://maps.google.com/
and
click
the StreetView button near top right of window.
+ GoogleEarth (3-D maps and animated
fly-arounds) - http://earth.google.com/
- Very cool, but needs high-speed connection.
+ Windows Live Local - Microsoft’s free answer
to Google: http://local.live.com/
- Combines many of the 3 dimensional features
of GoogleMaps and GoogleEarth.
For
example, click on Bird’sEye to see a real tilt view instead of a fabricated
one.
- Includes live road and traffic reports and
information http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=42.149001~-110.681793&style=r&lvl=4&scene=3712634&trfc=1
- Microsoft Virtual Earth (beta) 3D:
Free three dimensional (3-D) mapping:
http://maps.live.com/?wip=51
+ Global incident map – World map shows hot-spots you click to see current news, aerial photos, etc. Updated every 10 minutes. http://www.globalincidentmap.com/hom