CFS Weekly Newsletter #547

COMPLETELY FREE SOFTWARE
Deer's Revenge v1.1 -- Win9x/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Deer's Revenge is a fun, first-person shooter where you, as the deer, stalk and kill the hicks who have been hunting you. It features a choice of 4 locations, 3 weapons, 6 scents to attract your hick, a trophy room to porclein-mount your hicks, and more. This is a silly, not-so-little game that is very, very addictive. In Deer's Revenge you are a deer who finally wants to get his own back on the country hicks who have been hunting him. There is a choice of location, a choice of weapon, and a choice of scent (to mask your own). Within each location you can use the magnifier to select an area in which to hunt hicks, and then lay in wait for them. They can be encouraged with calls and rattles (country music, burps & other body noises, etc) and you can even use the binoculars to help locate them. When they are near enough, raise the gun and blast them away. Once shot, the hicks are mounted in the trophy room, making lots of comments about themselves and their families. No one cou
ld take Deer's Revenge seriously and, because of that, there are no high scores. Once you have filled the trophy room you just clear it and start again. Described as a "demo", we could not find where to buy a full version of Deer's Revenge. If you don't mind its excessive download size, and excessive bodily noises (or unless you're a thin-skinned hillbilly) then grab a copy of this fun shooter. We loved! Access this 19.2MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg7_w95.html#deerdemo32
Right-Click Extender v2.0 -- Win7 (5 doves)
Right-Click Extender is a Windows enhancing tool that adds selected items to the right-click context menu. It adds up to 69 items in 4 categories (File/Folder, Desktop, Drives & MyComputer), it can optionally include an icon with the listing, includes a one-click System backup/restore (Registry & System Restore Point), and more. This is a great way to add some basic functionality to Windows by selectively adding items to the right-click context menus. Simply select the item(s) that you want and click on "Apply" to have them added to the appropriate context menu. Easy. The author says: "Right-Click Extender is designed for Windows 7, but should work with Windows Vista as well. While not designed for Windows XP some features will work with XP as well, but if you try it and you don't find the feature added, this is due to certain features not being available for XP." If you want to add some items to the right-click context menus then grab a copy of Right-Click Extender. You will
be singing its praises for a long time to come! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME, partially suitable for XP and probably suitable for Vista. Access this 457kB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/we3_w95.html#RightClickExtender32
Imagina v1.4 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Imagina is an image viewer and editor (a virtual lightbox). It features either a 2D or 3D image display, it supports over 35 image & video formats, has a built-in slideshow with transitions, offers basic image editing (noise reduction, contrast/brightness, etc), offers quick image fixes, tagging, and more. This "virtual lightbox" is an excellent way to display your images and, if necessary, even carry out some basic editing. The 3D look is excellent, though it falls well short of being true 3D, and the slideshow has a number of transitions you can select. However, the best part of Imagina is the huge number of image formats it can display, plus quite a few popular video formats too. However, the video display suffers from a lack of control -- no "play", "pause", "rewind" or "fast forward" buttons -- when you click on a video it plays from start to finish. Videos can also be incorporated into your slideshow, enhancing the whole slideshow experience enormously, but it too suffe
rs from a lack of control. The slideshow can be stopped at any time but you cannot manually skip a video (or photo) during a presentation, only stop the whole show. That minor glitch aside, Imagina is without doubt one of the better image viewers available. We loved! Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 5.24MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/grp1_w95.html#Imagina32
Deal Hunter v1.4.2.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Deal Hunter is a tool that searches & tracks ongoing deals on eBay, sending e-mail alerts a few minutes before the bid is closed. It features an alert only if the deal is less than the set amount, there is no limit on the number of searches, you can exclude items on your search, the only information required is your e-mail address (and then only if you want the alerts), and more. This is a handy tool if you like to bid on eBay and want some help in tracking searches. You can use Deal Hunter to perform a very precise eBay search by using the "exclude" function. Should you decide to use it to assist with your bidding, it can send you an e-mail notification at a set time prior to the auction finishing (default is 10 minutes for the first alert) assuming that the amount is still under your preset maximum. For non-US users, Deal Hunter has one major drawback -- it only checks US eBay and cannot be used to check eBay in other countries. However, even non-US users can get some benef
it from it if they are prepared to purchase from the USA (assuming the seller will post internationally). Where US prices (including the postage charges) are cheaper than in your country, this can be a real advantage. Deal Hunter does an excellent job of helping you get great deals from eBay in the USA. We liked. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 1.38MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/ir3_w95.html#DealHunter32
Roughneck Article Spinner v2.0 -- Win98/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (4 doves)
Roughneck Article Spinner is an "article spinner" or "automated ghost writer" that uses thousands of built-in synonyms to help create unique content based on seed articles. It can swap articles, replace synonyms, and/or insert custom text. You can also determine the number of copies to make and also select the percentage of words to be replaced (default is 15% but can be a high as 75%). This is an interesting tool for anyone who is trying to write an essay or thesis that can pass the automated plagiarizing software tests. It does this by transposing some words with similar words (synonyms). Some results are hilarious, and the final copy must be careful edited to ensure that the grammar and meaning is retained. We tested some one-liners using the default (15%) level. It took the line "99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name" and rendered it "99 percent of lawyers donate the rest a bad name" -- the use of the word "give" was incorrectly rendered as "donate" (a legitimate
transposition in some contexts). A more amusing result was when we "spun" the following one-liner "No husband has ever been shot while doing the dishes" which was rendered "No husband has utterly been shot ticks reality the dishes". Roughneck Article Spinner does have some value for a writer, but it requires careful sub-editing once it has finished ghost writing your work. Use with caution. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 1.39MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/tp4_w95.html#RoughneckArticleSpinner32
StreamArmor v1.0 -- WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
StreamArmor is a utility program that finds & optionally removes hidden alternate data streams (ADS) which can be used by hackers. It features a multi threaded ADS scanner, it offers the option to ignore known & zero streams, it has advanced stream file type detection, sophisticated 'Auto Threat Analysis' based on heuristic technology, online threat verification to check for presence of Virus or Rootkit (choice of 3 on-line sites), parallel analysis of discovered streams during the scanning process, can delete the selected alternate data stream, export the entire list of discovered streams to a disk file in HTML format, requires no installation, and more. This is an awesome tool for discovering and for eradicating the evil streams used by people who wish to do you harm. It analysers all files, irrespective of file extension, so bring you a list of any that is considered quationable or dangerous. Files are color-coded so you can instantly see what files are likely to cause you
problems, and there is even an on-line threat verification for any suspicious file. File verification uses one of three major virus information Websites -- Virus Total, ThreatExpert or Malware Hash. The scan is not particularly fast, taking well over 23 minutes to scan 73.7GB of files on our C:\ drive. However, the peace of mind after a successful scan is worth the short wait (besides, you can always go and get a coffee while it scans). We were most impressed with StreamArmor. It discovered 12 questionable files on our C:\ drive, three of which were considered dangerous. Even though they were not dangerous (they were Cyberlink updating files) we were happy to delete them anyway. Don't wait until your security is compromised and your bank accounts have been cleaned out, grab a copy of StreamArmor now. You won't regret it... Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95, 98 or ME. Access this 1.26MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/du2_w95.html#StreamArmor32
Attack of the Cheap Laptops v1.5 -- Win98/ME/WinXP/Vista/Win7 (5 doves)
Attack of the Cheap Laptops is a Pacman clone with an interesting variation where you can kill the evil laptops. It features 4 levels, good graphics, challenging gameplay, good storyline (see below), high scores, and more. This would be "yet another Pacman clone" except for the variation. To explain it you really need to read the full storyline so, here it is: "Fresh from his adventure in eccentric Uncle Montgomerys rat infested mansion, Little Gent decides to invest some of his uncle's bullion in the purchase of a factory. The previous occupants of the factory -- NaffTech -- had been manufacturing cheap solar powered laptops, however the artificial intelligence software in these machines had malfunctioned, turning them violently sentient. Thankfully a class action law suit closed down NaffTech's dangerous operation. Little Gent's plan is to transform the abandoned factory into a bowler hat making enterprise, but first he must clear the building of danger by destroying all th
e solar modules that power the sentient laptops. The angry notebooks try to attack Little Gent so you should try to dodge them. The floppy disks contain deactivation software that terrifies the laptops. When you find a floppy disk the laptop modems begin to screech and they enter panic mode, Little Gent is then able to destroy them." As we said, it is a good storyline and worth the read -- and it also helps explain about the floppy disks and the deactivation software that allows you to kill the evil cheap laptops. In case you haven't figured it out yet, this free game is supplied by a company that provides cheap laptops, though we assume they are not the "cheap and nasty" kind portrayed in the game. If you enjoy Pacman games, or are a computer buff that loves everything to do with laptops, etc, then grab a copy of Attack of the Cheap Laptops. It will keep you amused for a little while, specially if you try and finish all four levels. Note: we have been advised that this program is not suitable for Windows 95. Access this 4.39MB download from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/gg13_w95.html#laptop-game32

UPDATES
FotoMix -- creates a montage of photos -- has been updated to version 6.2 with a download size of 2.56MB. The author has advised that changes in this version include a new skin, and it implements a transparent background feature in photo manipulation. Access this latest version from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/grp1_w95.html#FotoMix32
Eusing Free Registry Cleaner -- a tool that can safely clean and repair Registry problems -- has been updated to version 2.6.3 with a download size of 942kB. The author has advised that changes in this version include bug fixes and stability improvements. Access this update from:
http://www.completelyFREEsoftware.com/we1_w95.html#EFRC32

COMPUTER TIP OF THE WEEK
from Dr T -- RTemlak4dds@aol.com
Q:
I don't know what happened, but every time I open my Web browser, the homepage I have chosen is gone. Some other site is always there in its place. What can I do to get this fixed? I'm losing my patience, so please help me if you can!
A:
I completely understand! I would be losing my patience too, if I were you. There's nothing more frustrating than losing a homepage you really like every time you open your Web browser. It's happened to me before too, so I know exactly how you feel. Well, I'm here today to (hopefully) make you feel a little bit better about all of this. Let's check it out!
In fact, we get e-mail from people all the time telling us their homepage has been changed without their permission (usually in Internet Explorer). Most of the time, a quick trip to the Tools menu, Internet Options choice will let you reset the page. To do that, just type in the URL of the Web site you want to use for your homepage and then hit the OK button to save it in place.
However, sometimes it's an even bigger problem. Some folks find that each time they reboot their computer, their homepage switches back to an unwanted site and no amount of screaming seems to help. So, what's going on? How did their Web browser get hijacked?
Well, there are several ways this can happen; both for a simple homepage change and the nastier, seemingly permanent change. First, some Web pages will ask you if you want to make them your homepage. If you hit Yes, it's a done deal. After all, you can't be too surprised that your homepage was changed after you told your browser it was okay.
However, some will modify this question to something like, "Do you like freebies?" When you hit Yes to this, it secretly changes the homepage on you. Most of the time, the same dialogue box that's asking you if you like freebies (or whatever) will also say something to the effect that it's going to reset your homepage. They try to distract you from that message though, just to get you to click "Yes." So, be careful with those types.
Fortunately, when your homepage is switched in the ways outlined above, going to Tools, Internet Options will let you set your page back to whatever you want (of course, you'll need to know the address of your homepage). Normally, that takes care of the problem and you're back to normal again.
Another way your homepage can get switched is through a security hole in Internet Explorer. But, as long as you keep your browser up to date, this shouldn't be a problem. If it does get switched through this security hole, it's my understanding that generally, a script is placed in the Startup menu (Start, All Programs, Startup) that will reset the homepage each time Windows loads. Deleting it should let you switch back to your homepage permanently as well. Oh, and make sure you update Internet Explorer if you aren't in the habit of doing it. That's one nasty little security hole!
Finally, software can even be a problem. Some programs will load automatically when you start Windows and the first thing they do is reset your homepage. You may be able to disable this through their Options area, but don't hold your breath on that. Your best bet is to disable or get rid of any program you catch doing this.
Okay, that's all good and well, but if it is a program that's switching your homepage, how do you figure out which one it is? Well, if your browser's homepage was reset to the homepage of a particular software company (whose software you just installed), you probably aren't going to need too much mental energy to figure out who did it.
On the other hand, if you have no clue where the homepage in question came from, you'll need to look back on recently installed programs. Did your homepage change right after you installed a particular program? If so, that's where you should start looking. It seems that most of the time, these types of programs run from the Startup folder (mentioned above). So, if you see something in there that shouldn't be (or you're not sure), you may want to remove the item, reset your homepage back to one you actually want and then see if it stays put.
Oh, one last thing: watch out for install programs too. Some of them have an option for resetting your homepage that's checked or selected by default (you know, for your "convenience").
Whew, that's enough of that. Be careful out there! Everyone wants you to use their site for your homepage and they'll go to just about any length to make it happen. Hope this helps you out!
[Source: Worldstart.com]

SMILE OF THE WEEK
(contributions for this section are most welcome)
=: Brief Lawyer Jokes :=
[Disclaimer: We are publishing the following because there are people in this world who think that all lawyers are cheats, liars and thieves. Of course, we do not believe this (specially if they threaten to sue us) so we have included this disclaimer in which we categorically state that not ALL lawyers are cheats, liars and thieves -- somewhere in the world there must be at least one honest lawyer...]
How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?
How many can you afford?
How many personal injury lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?
Three one to change the light bulb, one to shake him off the ladder, and one to sue the ladder company.
How many lawyers does it take to change a light bulb?
Fifty four. Eight to argue, one to get a continuance, one to object, one to demur, two to research precedents, one to dictate a letter, one to stipulate, five to turn in their time cards, one to depose, one to write interrogatories, two to settle, one to order a secretary to change the bulb, and twenty-eight to bill for professional services.
Why don't you ever see lawyers at the beach?
Cats keep covering them with sand.
The Post Office just recalled their latest stamps.
They had pictures of lawyers on them, and people couldn't figure outwhich side to spit on.
How can a pregnant woman tell that she's carrying a future lawyer?
She has an uncontrollable craving for baloney.
How does an attorney sleep?
First he lies on one side, and then he lies on the other.
How many lawyer jokes are there?
Only three. The rest are true stories.
If a lawyer and an IRS agent were both drowning, and you could
save only one of them, would you go to lunch or read the paper?
What happens when you cross a pig with a lawyer?
Nothing. There are some things a pig won't do.
What's the difference between a lawyer and a vulture?
The lawyer gets frequent flyer miles.
Why does California have the most lawyers in the country while New Jersey has the most toxic waste sites?
New Jersey got first choice.
What did the lawyer name his daughter? Sue.
What do you call 25 skydiving lawyers? Skeet.
What do you call a lawyer gone bad? Senator.
What do you call a lawyer with an IQ of 50? Your honor.
What do you throw to a drowning lawyer? His partners.
What does a lawyer use for birth control? His personality.
[author unknown]

COMMENTS
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