Best Free Online Productivity Tools

Online Office Suite

ThinkFree Office Online - These are java applications and take about a minute to open up the first time you run them, but after being run once, they can be opened very quickly. ThinkFree opens and saves to standard Microsoft Office formats: DOC, XLS, PPT. They can even save to PDF. Basically, you open up local files and can save them on your hard drive. If you want to save them to ThinkFree's servers, they give you 30MB of storage space.

Online Personal Information Manager

Backpack - Backpack is essentially on online note taker. It allows you to input text, insert images, create to-do lists and attach files. You can schedule reminders that will email you or contact your cell phone.

My Yahoo - This contains a full suite of PIM (Personal Information Manager) tools that truly are excellent. To-do lists, notes, task managers, calendars, they're all here. Additionally, they integrate with every major PIM software package like Outlook and Palm.

Online Project Manager / Project Tracker

Basecamp - The free version allows you to track one project at a time, but allows an unlimited number of clients.It's primary functions are to share, prioritize and assign tasks and to schedule due dates and milestones. You can, of course, also share notes within your organization.

Online PDF Creator / PDF Converter

Online PDF Converter - Online PDF Converter converts an amazing number of formats to PDF files. If you desire, it will watermark your PDF or encrypt it using Adobe's Acrobat encryption method. Limit of 1MB per file.

+dwebb

Movies and Media Online

We are slowly starting to see more and more entertainment content going online and in many forms. Allot of our favorite TV shows or movies, as well as past programing is available across the web both legally and illegally. One such website I discovered recently allows you to upload content and share it with others worldwide. You can stream the content or download it for later use. The site is called:
OpenFlv and it enables users to create play lists and collections of movies they want to watch in a row. The content is categorized into different types and the files are in various formats.

check it out here

+dwebb

20 Flash Tools

Here is a collection of Websites related to Flash. Great when you are looking for that action script or code snippet for your next big Flash project.

Action Script Library - A collection of code snippets for use with ActionScript.

ActionScript.org Library - A collection of over 700 scripts for you to use, a large selection of tutorials and more.

Actionscript Physics Engine - A free 2D physics engine for Actionscript 3 from MIT.

ActionStep.org - An ActionScript 2.0 open source component framework for writing to the Flash player.

Aflax.org - An attempt to bring Ajax and Flash together.

Animation Package - An ActionScript library (Flash player 6 and above) with a focus on keeping file sizes down.

AS2lib.org - The AS2 library open source framework to work with Actionscript 2.

AS2Unit.org - An Actionscript 2 testing framework that lets you run repeatable tests on your classes.

AsFusion.com - A blog written by two developers about merging ColdFusion and Flash and how they can work together.

DontClickIt.com - An experimenting in using Flash to make a clickless interface.

FFiles.com - A large collection of examples of Flash movies that you can view, rate and comment on. You can also submit your own for review.

Flalog.com - Tips, tricks, and tutorials for Flash and ActionScript.

FlashGuru.co.uk - A collection of articles, tutorials and extensions for Flash.

FlashKit.com - Code snippets, reviews, links, over 1,000 tutorials.

Flashtica.com - A designer-oriented site with open source scripts and links to lots of resources.

FlashVillage.com - Free Flash and Logo templates, forums, and more, registration required.

GoToAndLearn.com - A site with very in-depth video tutorials on various aspects of Flash.

Kirupa.com Tutorials - An extensive collection of tutorials on just about every conceivable aspect of Flash.

The Fuse Kit - A compact animation kit for Flash, more for everyday use than making full animations.

TutorialOutpost Flash Lessons - A huge collection of tutorials on many aspects of the Flash program.

+dwebb

15 Tutorial Sites for Designers / Developers

Here is a great list of tutorial websites that will help with all your design / development projects.

PhotoshopMosaic.com - An aggregator of Photoshop tutorials from various sources.

PhotoshopRoadmap.com - Another aggregator of Photoshop tutorials from around the web.

PhotoshopTutorials.ws - Very specific graphics editing tutorials like adding sepia tones to a portion of an image, removing freckles, adding wrinkles to a photo and more.

Pslover.com - Over 10,500+ tutorials on using Photoshop.

Web Design From Scratch - Design for 2.0 Guide - A lengthy, and detailed, guide to how to design a site with a Web 2.0 feel to it.

Webmonkey.com - One of the oldest resources on the web for tutorials, and still full of useful information.

999Tutorials.com - Features free tutorials on PHP, general web stuff, Google AdSense and more.

CommunityMX.com - Over 2,000 tutorials for Flash, Fireworks, ColdFusion, Dreamweaver and more.

CSS Library - Numerous examples of CSS tricks with the code to duplicate them and tutorials on how it was accomplished.

Good-Tutorials.com - An aggregator for tutorials from around the web for things like CSS, Flash, Photoshop and more.

Ndesign-Studio.com - Has several step-by-step tutorials for Illustrator and Dreamweaver.

EchoEcho.com Flash Tutorials - Has tutorials for Flash basics, drawings, buttons and more.

Video-Tutes.com - Tons of free video tutorials for programs such as Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver, Word, and more.

Tutorialized.com - A tutorial aggregator that allows people to submit tutorials they’ve found around the web.

TechTut.com - Has detailed, step-by-step, tutorials for programs such as Photoshop, Maya, 3D Studio Max and more.

+dwebb

Krav Maga

Well I haven't been updating the site as much as I would have liked, but I have been pretty busy with Life, Work and now Krav Maga. What the heck is Krav Maga you ask? Well for starters it's a self defense style that is very effective and has no wasted movement. It was founded by a Hungarian named Imi Lichtenfeld in the 1930's. It's translation in English means "Close Combat". In Krav Maga, there are no hard-and-fast rules, and no distinction in training for men and women. It is not a sport, and there are no specific uniforms, attire or competitions. All the techniques focus on maximum efficiency in real-life conditions. Krav Maga generally assumes a no quarter situation; the attacks and defenses are intended for potentially lethal threat situations, and aim to neutralize these and escape via maximum pain or damage to opponents, as rapidly and safely as possible. Crippling attacks to vulnerable body parts, including groin and eye strikes, headbutts, and other efficient and potentially brutal attacks, improvised use of any objects available, and maximizing personal safety in a fight, are emphasized.

I have been taking it now for about a month and so far so good, it is an intense cardiovascular workout and everything we have learned is very practical. I will keep you updated on my progress in this unique and effective form of self defense. :)

Krav Maga Worldwide
History of Krav Maga
+dwebb

10 Great Widgets for Your Blog

Here is a nice little collection of widgets you can use for your blog.

Mashable - get the latest social networking news from this very site.

Flickr Flash Photo Stream Badge - display images from your Flickr profile with a handy Flash photo stream.

Preview Anywhere - see a live preview of outgoing links in a small popup which activates on mouseover. Some find this annoying, while others might find it useful.

Twitter Badge - if your life is so interesting that everyone must know what you’re up to all the time, then a Twitter badge is the ideal counterpart to your blog. It’ll proudly displays your recent tweets.

Digg News - display the latest Digg links on your blog. Themeable and fully customizable.

FEEDJIT - real time traffic data directly in your blog’s sidebar.

LineBuzz - inline comments for your blog. Very handy for blogs with frequent lively discussions.

Flixn - display a stream directly from your webcam, so your blog visitors can always see what you’re up to.

3Jam - lets your visitors send messages to your mobile phone, without them knowing your phone number.

Jaxtr - with Jaxtr, your visitors can actually call you to your mobile phone; again, your number stays private.


+dwebb

CSS for idio.... LAZY PEOPLE!

Say what you want, but CSS is the wave of the future as far as websites are concerned. Those of us who understand it should be given warm chocolate chip cookies and ice cold milk. For those of us who don't: Can you stand reading multiple pages of technical dribble? Do you really want to take those uber-boring classes?

Join the revolution of Western society and take the easy road to CSS.

Love
Captain Swiz

P.S Your TV was fine.. They meant to end The Sopranos that way.

A PIRATES LIFE FOR ME!!?????!! Not if your using iTunes

So, the new version of iTunes allows you to download music without having to worry about infringing on any DRM guidelines. BUT - that doesn't mean they want us sharing our music like kids share the flu in school.. NO NO Pirate-san. If anything - BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU.

Read On.

(Please Note: Sure, most of us have bypassed DRM related issues in the past, and I am sure we will into the future... BUT - not all of us have nor do all of us have to. Just read the darn thing on how Apple is sharing your information with everyone you share your music with via your ID3 tag!!)

Noochies
Smiling Swag Sandwich

Are people borrowing your bandwidth? Make it fun for them (or go get a baseball bat!).

Even though I spent my Junior and Senior year at UConn borrowing my neighbor's internet connection, I have since repented and feel that I should be an advocate against such evil doings..

Alright.. Let's be real.. I never repented, but it is wrong. I mean, what if it happens to you?
HA.. Screw with them.

Find out how here.

Swag Sparrow
Fellow Pirate and Instigator

Better Gmail

Attention all Gmail AND Firefox (together in unison.. Not on it's own.. Whoop Whoop) users - CAN YOOOOUUUU DIG ITTTTT!?!?!

Better Gmail

No need to explain - just get in the game.

HINT: Skinning it in "Super Clean" gives you the ability to right click over an email and see the whole thing without opening it.

Keep it Sleazy,
The Poetic Swagson

IPOD A/V Connector Kit for $36

With the pirate revolution growing stronger everyday, it is inevitable that the screen size on your iPod's aren't going to do justice to that Screener of Shrek 3 that you have in your possession.

This combined with the fact that Apple wants $100 for their A/V kit, makes for some tough decision making, and quite possibly a pissed off wife, husband, life mate, or personal servant.

dealmac.com has come to the rescue (via buy.com) in offering Cables to Go's A/V Connection Kit for just about $36 beans.

This rig comes with everything that the Apple version comes with, sans the little Apple logo.

Enjoy

Salty Old Uncle Swag

"When pushed... Killing is as easy as Breathing" (Amazing Rambo IV Content!!)

When I was a kid, I got a Rambo combat set for a birthday my mom threw me at Burger King Palace. It was one of the best gifts I was ever given - complete with canteen, grenades, and the replica Gil Hibben knife - though this one was plastic and rubber. Since then I have had a sick fascination with the life of John J. Rambo. So much so, that I could quote him all day...

NOW, I know this is a bit off topic of what General D has been providing, but I know he won't smack me around for this: THE 3 MINUTE AND 29 SECOND TRAILER THAT THE LORD HIMSELF PROVIDED TO US ON THIS GREAT DAY FOR "RAMBO IV" aka "JOHN RAMBO" :

"They drew first blood. NOT ME!"

Kid McGuire,
Refugee All Star

ColorBlender - Color Matching Tool

There are so many times when I designing a website and have a specific color scheme I want to go with but have trouble matching up complimentary colors to go with it. Here is a nice free online tool that will allow you to color match and blend colors together to obtain a matching palette. The palette can then be downloaded and saved for importing into Photoshop. There is also a gallery of premade palettes you can grab, made by the online community. All in all it is a very slick and valuable resource for anyone designing websites or printed media.

Check it out here.

+dwebb

HTML And CSS Cheat Sheets

Many of us are either already in the design industry or wanting to learn. Well for those of you just getting into web design, or for those of us who want a quick reference sheet for the times when you forget the specific tags and how they are used, here are some nice hand dandy cheat sheets to remind you. There is one for CSS specific tags and one for good old HTML.

Download HTML Cheat Sheet
Download CSS Cheat Sheet

+dwebb

77 Free Vector Buttons

Similar to the previous post, here is an awesome set of 77 vector buttons all for free. Use these in your website projects or print applications. They are very clean and can be edited to suit your needs.

Download the Illustrator CS2 file
Download the JPEG

+dwebb

165 Free Vector Icons

We all like things that are free, well here is a nice set of 165 scalable vector Icons that can be utilized for your website or print projects. They are very clean, stylish and easy to use. Go grab them today kiddies ;)

Download Illustrator CS2 File
Download SVG File
Download JPEG File

+dwebb

Pimping Out Ubuntu: Enlightenment Engage Dock

From time to time we all need to admit to our faults in life. One of mine is that I love the way a MAC OS desktop looks. Another one, is that I love Apple's integrated Program Dock.

I've been personally using ObjectDock by Stardock on my PC for almost a year now, and I think it's the bees knees. It keeps my desktop tidy, while offering plenty of space for all of my bit torrent downloads. It can be found here: http://www.stardock.com/products/objectdock/

But, let's be honest here - while we're amongst friends and fellow pirates - I'm getting darn tired of paying for Bill Gates' bar tab supporting the Microsoft world. Knowing that most of you are too, and knowing that most of you have turned to the dark side of the Open Source OS, I offer the ability to pimp your desktop out, without much hassle:

Enlightenment Engage Dock

Rock out my little heathens.. Rock out indeed!

S. McG

ADDICTION

Shhh... Just do it: http://ishi.blog2.fc2.com/blog-entry-211.html?new

Mone Cappy

Useful Ubuntu Links

I have been using Ubuntu for awhile now on two of my laptops and I have to say it was incredibly easy to setup and installing applications on it have come a long way. I love the customization and flexibility you have with the OS. I am all about open source these days and even on my Windows boxes I use mostly open source software. Here is an awesome collection of links on everything Ubuntu related. a great resource for anyone wanting to get their hands dirty and try this OS.

Check it out here.

+dwebb

Same Ole' Boring Desktop

I figure, for my first post, that I'll start off low and slow in attempt to not scare anyone out there. So, here goes...

I know that most of us are tired of the tired icons available to us and our folders on our desktops, within these folders, and found throughout our hard drives.. AND, I know most of you out there have probably changed them.. BUT, I think I am right in saying that you've had to travel the internet universe to find those icons that are just right for you and your personality.

WELL.. Search no more my sweet friends, for I found the mother load of icons here.
(actually, Mrs. Captain Swag found them.. So she deserves the credit..)

Nonetheless, rock out on that for a while.

The Cap'n

Jinzora: Build An Internet Jukebox

Jinzora enables you to stream your digital music and videos to any internet connected computer using a web browser.

Check it out here.

+dwebb

CSS Slicing Guide

Here is a great tutorial on slicing up a CSS website from a layout that you created in Photoshop. In this tutorial you will learn to slice your templates into fully valid XHTML and CSS web pages.

Check it out here.

+dwebb

How To Beat That Traffic Ticket

If you've ever been ticketed for speeding or running a red light, you already know that the fine you pay may only be the beginning of your cost. Never plead guilty!!! I have contested numerous tickets and even if you have to pay something to charity, the fine is much reduced and it doesn't go on your insurance. Here is a great article on how to beat a traffic ticket if you are facing the man :)

check it out here.

+dwebb

Create Color Schemes With Adobe Kuler

Need a color theme for your web site, art project, or magazine pages? Head to Adobe Kuler, an interactive web-based app that whips up snazzy themes in a matter of seconds.

check it out here.

+dwebb

Using A Webcrawler To Grab Images And Mp3's

A web crawler (also known as a web spider or web robot) is a program or automated script which browses the in a methodical, automated manner. Other less frequently used names for web crawlers are ants,automatic indexers, bots, and worms

With the web crawler you will be able to:

• Extract data from a site that is constantly updating its data ( like CNN News or Yahoo News )
• Build a search engine
• Download a huge amount of files from web pages like MP3 files, code ( zip files ) etc
• Build a monitoring bot that will alert you when specific conditions are met. For instance,
  let me know when Nasdac is below a specific value.

Check it out here.

+dwebb

101 Free Photoshop-compatible Plugins

Here is a great website resource for all Photoshop and GIMP users. It contains numerous plugins in different categories. The site also contains reviews and how-tos.

Check it out here.

+dwebb

Free Wake up Calls

Here is a great free service that will remind you of certain appointments or give you a wake up call when you need it. TelePixie's Free Telephone Services are available in the US and Canada!

Check it out here.

+dwebb

101 Ways To Be Annoying

Here is a great list I found for being annoying ;)

1. Sing the Batman theme incessantly.
2. In the memo field of all your checks, write "for sensual massage."
3. Specify that your drive-through order is "to go."
4. Learn Morse code, and have conversations with friends in public consisting entirely of "Beeeep Bip Bip Beeeep Bip..."
5. If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.
6. Amuse yourself for endless hours by hooking a camcorder to your TVand then pointing it at the screen.
7. Speak only in a "robot" voice.
8. Push all the flat Lego pieces together tightly.
9. Start each meal by conspicuously licking all your food, and announce that this is so no one will "swipe your grub."
10. Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17 inchpaper, 99 copies.
11. Stomp on little plastic ketchup packets.
12. Sniffle incessantly.
13. Leave your turn signal on for fifty miles.
14. Name your dog "Dog."
15. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions "to keep them tuned up."
16. Reply to everything someone says with "that's what YOU think."
17. Claim that you must always wear a bicycle helmet as part of your "astronaut training."
18. Declare your apartment an independent nation, and sue your neighbors upstairs for "violating your airspace."
19. Forget the punchline to a long joke, but assure the listener it was a "real hoot."
20. Follow a few paces behind someone, spraying everything they touch with a can of Lysol.
21. Practice making fax and modem noises.
22. Highlight irrelevant information in scientific papers and "cc:" them to your boss.
23. Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.
24. Invent nonsense computer jargon in conversations, and see if people play along to avoid the appearance of ignorance.
25. Erect an elaborate network of ropes in your backyard, and tell the neighbors you are a "spider person."
26. Finish all your sentences with the words "in accordance with prophesy."
27. Wear a special hip holster for your remote control.
28. Do not add any inflection to the end of your sentences, producing awkward silences with the impression that you'll be saying more any moment.
29. Signal that a conversation is over by clamping your hands over your ears.
30. Disassemble your pen and "accidentally" flip the ink cartridge across the room.
31. Give a play-by-play account of a person's every action in a nasal Howard Cosell voice.
32. Holler random numbers while someone is counting.
33. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you "like it that way."
34. Drum on every available surface.
35. Staple papers in the middle of the page.
36. Ask 1-800 operators for dates.
37. Produce a rental video consisting entirely of dire FBI copyright warnings.
38. Sew anti-theft detector strips into people's backpacks.
39. Hide dairy products in inaccessible places.
40. Write the surprise ending to a novel on its first page.
41. Set alarms for random times.
42. Order a side of pork rinds with your filet mignon.
43. Instead of Gallo, serve Night Train next Thanksgiving.
44. Publicly investigate just how slowly you can make a "croaking" noise.
45. Honk and wave to strangers.
46. Dress only in clothes colored Hunter's Orange.
47. Change channels five minutes before the end of every show.
48. Tape pieces of "Sweating to the Oldies" over climactic parts of rental movies.
49. Wear your pants backwards.
50. Decline to be seated at a restaurant, and simply eat their complimentary mints by the cash register.
51. Begin all your sentences with "ooh la la!"
52. ONLY TYPE IN UPPERCASE.
53. only type in lowercase.
54. dont use any punctuation either
55. Buy a large quantity of orange traffic cones and reroute whole streets.
56. Pay for your dinner with pennies.
57. Tie jingle bells to all your clothes.
58. Repeat everything someone says, as a question.
59. Write "X - BURIED TREASURE" in random spots on all of someone's roadmaps.
60. Inform everyone you meet of your personal Kennedy asassination/ UFO/O.J. Simpson conspiracy theories.
61. Repeat the following conversation a dozen times: "Do you hear that?" "What?" "Never mind, it's gone now."
62. Light road flares on a birthday cake.
63. Wander around a restaurant, asking other diners for their parsley.
64. Leave tips in Bolivian currency.
65. Demand that everyone address you as "Conquistador."
66. At the laundromat, use one dryer for each of your socks.
67. When Christmas caroling, sing "Jingle Bells, Batman smells" until physically restrained.
68. Wear a cape that says "Magnificent One."
69. As much as possible, skip rather than walk.
70. Stand over someone's shoulder, mumbling, as they read.
71. Pretend your computer's mouse is a CB radio, and talk to it.
72. Try playing the William Tell Overture by tapping on the bottom of your chin. When nearly done, announce "no, wait, I messed it up," and repeat.
73. Drive half a block.
74. Inform others that they exist only in your imagination.
75. Ask people what gender they are.
76. Lick the filling out of all the Oreos, and place the cookie parts back in the tray.
77. Cultivate a Norwegian accent. If Norwegian, affect a Southern drawl.
78. Routinely handcuff yourself to furniture, informing the curious that you don't want to fall off "in case the big one comes."
79. Deliberately hum songs that will remain lodged in co-workers' brains, such as "Feliz Navidad," the Archies' "Sugar" or the Mr. Rogers theme song.
80. While making presentations, occasionally bob your head like a parakeet.
81. Lie obviously about trivial things such as the time of day.
82. Leave your Christmas lights up and lit until September.
83. Change your name to "John Aaaaasmith" for the great glory of being first in the phone book. Claim it's a Hawaiian name, and demand that people pronounce each "a."
84. Sit in your front yard pointing a hair dryer at passing cars to see if they slow down.
85. Chew on pens that you've borrowed.
86. Wear a LOT of cologne.
87. Listen to 33rpm records at 45rpm speed, and claim the faster speed is necessary because of your "superior mental processing."
88. Sing along at the opera.
89. Mow your lawn with scissors.
90. At a golf tournament, chant "swing-batabatabata-suhWING-batter!"
91. Ask the waitress for an extra seat for your "imaginary friend."
92. Go to a poetry recital and ask why each poem doesn't rhyme.
93. Ask your co-workers mysterious questions, and then scribble their answers in a notebook. Mutter something about "psychological profiles."
94. Stare at static on the TV and claim you can see a "magic picture."
95. Select the same song on the jukebox fifty times.
96. Never make eye contact.
97. Never break eye contact.
98. Construct elaborate "crop circles" in your front lawn.
99. Construct your own pretend "tricorder," and "scan" people with it, announcing the results.
100. Make appointments for the 31st of September.
101. Invite lots of people to other people's parties.

+dwebb

Free SMS Texting Online

We all know that texting on a cellphone is neither fun nor quick usually. Here is a little solution to that. TxtDrop is an SMS to Phone gateway, where you can get your sms via your phone, but forget answering it there, like many SMS systems, this one is a widget that sits on your Vista side bar and allows you to SMS your friends using your full powered PC without having to use Yahoo, AOL or MSN Messenger.

Check it out here.

+dwebb

Find Online Deals Quickly

For anyone who shops allot online and is always looking for the best deals, here is a great resource called Coupon Looker. Coupon Looker is a vertical search engine that allows a person to search only for coupons from across the web. On top of that, like many search engines they have a widget that allows you to have a customized coupon search engine on your web site as well using their widget, their back end, and your blogging or other web site.

Check it out here.

+dwebb

Free Legal MP3's For Download

The Internet is awash with mp3 files which can be legally downloaded. From unsigned bands and budding musicians through to podcasts on all genres; in greater quantity and diversity than can ever be found on any P2P network. Clickster is an easy to use free application which searches and downloads mp3 files from the Internet and not, from other P2P users. Providing a safe and comprehensive alternative to P2P networks. Clickster requires no installation and can even run from a Flash-Drive.

Check it out here.

+dwebb

Web Widgets For Your Website

Widgetbox is a directory and syndication platform for web widgets for blogs and other web pages. They work with TypePad, WordPress, Blogger, MySpace as well as most other blogs, sidebars or websites. No plug-ins are needed, and they're free. Check them out below:

http://www.widgetbox.com/

+dwebb

Transfer Files Between Computers

Here is a short listing of utilities that can be used to transfer files from one computer to another, when you don't have the trusty USB stick on hand.

Check them out:

1. DropBoks
2. YouSendIt
3. localhostr
4. 1-Click-Share
5. DivShare
6. WiPeer

+dwebb

Detect Invisible Users on Yahoo

here is a little online app, that will let you detect whether or not someone is invisible on yahoo:

http://xeeber.com/

+dwebb

Commands For The XP Run Menu

Here is a listing of some popular commands that can be placed in the run window in XP:

Application = Command

Accessibility Controls = access.cpl
Add Hardware Wizard = hdwwiz.cpl
Add/Remove Programs = appwiz.cpl
Administrative Tools = control admintools
Automatic Updates = wuaucpl.cpl
Bluetooth Transfer Wizard = fsquirt
Calculator = calc
Certificate Manager = certmgr.msc
Character Map = charmap
Check Disk Utility = chkdsk
Clipboard Viewer = clipbrd
Command Prompt = cmd
Component Services = dcomcnfg
Computer Management = compmgmt.msc
Date and Time Properties = timedate.cpl
DDE Shares = ddeshare
Device Manager = devmgmt.msc
Direct X Control Panel (If Installed)* = directx.cpl
Direct X Troubleshooter = dxdiag
Disk Cleanup Utility = cleanmgr
Disk Defragment = dfrg.msc
Disk Management = diskmgmt.msc
Disk Partition Manager = diskpart
Display Properties = control desktop/desk.cpl
Dr. Watson System Troubleshooting Utility = drwtsn32
Driver Verifier Utility = verifier
Event Viewer = eventvwr.msc
File Signature Verification Tool = sigverif
Findfast = findfast.cpl
Folders Properties = control folders
Fonts = control fonts
Fonts Folder = fonts
Free Cell Card Game = freecell
Game Controllers = joy.cpl
Group Policy Editor (XP Prof) = gpedit.msc
Hearts Card Game = mshearts
Iexpress Wizard = iexpress
Indexing Service = ciadv.msc
Internet Properties = inetcpl.cpl
IP Configuration = ipconfig
Java Control Panel (If Installed) = jpicpl32.cpl
Java Application Cache Viewer (If Installed) = javaws
Keyboard Properties = control keyboard
Local Security Settings = secpol.msc
Local Users and Groups = lusrmgr.msc
Logs You Out Of Windows = logoff
Microsoft Chat = winchat
Minesweeper Game = winmine
Mouse Properties = control mouse
Mouse Properties = main.cpl
Network Connections = control netconnections
Network Connections = ncpa.cpl
Network Setup Wizard = netsetup.cpl
Notepad = notepad
Nview Desktop Manager (If Installed) = nvtuicpl.cpl
Object Packager = packager
ODBC Data Source Administrator = odbccp32.cpl
On Screen Keyboard = osk
Opens AC3 Filter (If Installed) = ac3filter.cpl
Password Properties = password.cpl
Performance Monitor = perfmon.msc
Performance Monitor = perfmon
Phone and Modem Options = telephon.cpl
Power Configuration = powercfg.cpl
Printers and Faxes = control printers
Printers Folder = printers
Private Character Editor = eudcedit
Quicktime (If Installed) = QuickTime.cpl
Regional Settings = intl.cpl
Registry Editor = regedit
Registry Editor = regedit32
Remote Desktop = mstsc
Removable Storage = ntmsmgr.msc
Removable Storage Operator Requests = ntmsoprq.msc
Resultant Set of Policy (XP Prof) = rsop.msc
Scanners and Cameras = sticpl.cpl
Scheduled Tasks = control schedtasks
Security Center = wscui.cpl
Services = services.msc
Shared Folders = fsmgmt.msc
Shuts Down Windows = shutdown
Sounds and Audio = mmsys.cpl
Spider Solitare Card Game = spider
SQL Client Configuration = cliconfg
System Configuration Editor = sysedit
System Configuration Utility = msconfig
System File Checker Utility = sfc
System Properties = sysdm.cpl
Task Manager = taskmgr
Telnet Client = telnet
User Account Management = nusrmgr.cpl
Utility Manager = utilman
Windows Firewall = firewall.cpl
Windows Magnifier = magnify
Windows Management Infrastructure = wmimgmt.msc
Windows System Security Tool = syskey
Windows Update Launches = wupdmgr
Windows XP Tour Wizard = tourstart
Wordpad = write

+dwebb

Free Online Photo Editors

We have all needed to fix, edit or modify an image on the fly at some point or another. Here are a list of some free online photo editors that do just that and more. In addition to letting you do things like resizing, rotating, and optimizing brightness, contrast, and colors, many of these will actually apply filters (blur, sharpen, etc.) and other weird fun effects, such as giving your image an old-fashioned border or making collages. So you can pick the one that fits your needs, from simple image correcting to elaborate artistic creations.

Check them out:

• Fauxto
• Picnik
• Picture2Life
• Pixenate
• Snipshot

+dwebb

Hiding Messages In Pictures

The art of hiding messages and secret words in a picture is known as Steganography. There are various methods of doing this. PicSecret is an application that lets you do just that. It is special in that it encodes the message by making visible changes to the image, rather than encoding the message in non-visible parts of an image file's data.

Check it out here.

+dwebb

Phrases to Use When Losing a Tech Argument

Here is a great list of comebacks to use when you are losing a technical argument :)

1. That won't scale.
2. That's been proven to be O(N^2) and we need a solution that's O(NlogN).
3. There are, of course, various export limitations on that technology.
4. The syntax is idiosyncratic.
5. Trying to build a team behind that technology would be a staffing nightmare.
6. That can't be generalized to a cross-platform build.
7. Unfortunately, the license would contaminate our product.
8. If we go with that idea, we're going to have Don Marti camped out in the front lobby with 300 angry software jihad supporters.
9. Our support infrastructure simply can't handle the volume that change would involve.
10. I had one of the interns try that approach for another project, and it scrambled the CEO's hard drive. So I think it's going to be a hard sell.
11. Yes, well, that's just not the way things work in the real world.
12. I like your idea. Why don't you write up a white paper and we'll review it at the next staff meeting?
13. Unfortunately, we're an all-FORTH shop. Otherwise, it's a nice idea.
14. I think you need to stop taking this so personally. We need to think about what's best for the project, not about our own little pet theories.
15. Oh, I played with that approach back as an undergrad. Got a D, too.
16. I was reading about that on BugTraq yesterday.
17. Yes, I believe that's the approach Windows NT is taking.
18. That's totally inefficient on modern hardware.
19. Well, yes, but it really reduces to the knapsack problem in that case. Do you have some kind of heuristic, or are we dealing with an NP-complete case?
20. Have you LOOKED at the number of I/O requests that will create?
21. We can't afford the transaction overhead.
22. Yeah, or we could all just plink away on Amigas or something.
23. What? I don't speak your crazy moon-language.
24. Hmm. Didn't they just go bankrupt? It's OK, I guess -- there's some German company who's picked up the existing service contracts.
25. No, no, no. We're really working on an N-TIER architecture, here.
26. No, no, no. It's fairly important that the database be in THIRD NORMAL FORM.
27. No, that would break object encapsulation.
28. I don't think that's altogether clear. Please write it up in UML for me.
29. I think there's a problem with your drive geometry.
30. Can you generate some USE CASES that would justify the change?
31. How is that going to impact the schedule?
32. RAM is cheap and all, but...
33. It would probably be best if we deferred that until version 2.0.
34. I like it, but it is too point-oh for my tastes.
35. If you make this change, I will fork the code.
36. Yes, well, unfortunately the economy is going away from anything remotely like that. Our investors would kill us.
37. Jakob Nielsen wrote an interesting hit piece on that.
38. Yes, yes, we've all read DJB's RFCs on the subject.
39. This is all covered in Knuth, and we don't have time to go over it again.
40. This one is in the FAQ: http://www.linuxmafia.com/~rick/faq/#your_dumb_technology
41. I don't have time for this extropian nonsense.
42. Well, I guess we could start the QA cycles again from square one. That would require a press release, though.
43. You used to program in Pascal, didn't you?
44. Why don't we make a generalized solution including both options, and let the administrator decide with a config-file setting?
45. You've obviously ignored the various namespace issues.
46. I don't think you're considering the performance trade-offs.
47. What kind of benchmarks have you been running?
48. Let's table this for now, and we'll talk about it one-on-one off-line.
49. This really doesn't jibe with our core competency.
50. This sort of thing should really be outsourced.
51. I remember that IBM had a project to do that back in the 70s.
52. Um, hello? We're using VON NEUMANN MACHINES HERE.
53. We need this to fit on a single floppy.
54. Yes, but can this be embedded in a toaster, for example?
55. We need something that my mom can use.
56. Users won't want to click through that many layers of hierarchy.
57. The packaging costs will be prohibitive.
58. OK, but what about internationalization?
59. Look, would you just get off your Be obsession for FIVE MINUTES and talk serious design with us?
60. That's a good idea -- you should do that on your home page.
61. Yeah, Linuxcare tried that with the Sourceror project.
62. Ho, man! Are they still AROUND? That's so cool. I thought that whole idea was discredited years ago.
63. What you're not seeing is the difference between an 'is-a' and a 'has-a' relationship.
64. There is no hope for the widow's son, Boaz.
65. Yes, but we're standardizing on XML.
66. That doesn't fit into the MVC model.
67. Well, that's great if you have an AI running the thing.
68. Well, they're going to do that with the next version of Perl, so we should probably wait.
69. Well, they're going to do that with the next version of OS X, so we should probably wait.
70. I heard that the only real application for that technology was child pornography. How did you hear about it?

+dwebb