Hewie's Views and Reviews
By Hewie Poplock

Welcome to this issue of Hewie's Views & Reviews. Be sure to visit Hewie's Favorites at http://www.hewie.net/ . Hewie's Quick Thoughts appear almost daily at http://www.hewie.net/weblog/ .

In this issue :

++++ Controlling E-Mail
++++ Google Synonym Command
++++ Mailinator
++++ Special Pricing
++++ New additions to Hewie's Favorites

September, 2003


++++ Controlling E-Mail

Spam has been a topic in many of my newsletters. There are reports and editorials about spam on TV, radio, in the newspapers, and of course, in the computer trade magazines and e-zines. The experts say that over 50 percent of all e-mails are Spam.

I use software that tries to help me limit those pesky ads, and I look to the ISP's to limit spam from getting through. However, what can we do to get rid of those emails that want to enlarge or reduce body parts, make our sex lives better, reduce our mortgage, and more, but keep emails from friends, family and business associates?

Spam is described as unsolicited e-mail. Many of the newsletters that I receive are seen as Spam by Mailwasher Pro http://www.firetrust.com/products/mailwasherpro/ , the program that I use to filter my e-mail. Some personal e-mail that you, my readers send, or e-mail that my students or friends send to me are marked as Spam and ready for deletion. If I used certain program settings, I could have all of my unwanted e-mail deleted automatically. That would mean that some mail that I actually wanted or needed to read, would be deleted without me knowing that I even received it.

Outlook, Outlook Express, and other e-mail programs, as well as web based mail such as Yahoo! and Hotmail do automatic filtering. Earthlink has some anti-Spam software in place on the server level. AOL blocks whole domains and some desired e-mails do not get delivered. Some AOL readers of this newsletter miss issues, because AOL blocked it. A friend found this newsletter in his MSN junk mail folder. Others never receive it.

Do we really want AOL, Earthlink, Mailwasher, or McAfee's Spam Killer to decide what e-mail we want to read or receive? Isn't this automated censorship controlled by the software that someone programs? Would a system that is being put in place for unsolicited phone calls work for Spam? Are you willing to give up some important e-mail to eliminate some Spam?

I want to hear from you. Send your opinions to a special e-mail address at response@hewie.net < mailto:response@hewie.net > . I'll share some of the responses with you in a future newsletter.


++++ Google Synonym Command

This came from a recent Search Engine Update newsletter:
"Want Google to look up words related to a keyword you've entered? Now there's a new synonym command that you can try. Just place a tilde character (~) in front of the word. For example, while a search for 'gardening tips' would look for pages relevant only to both of those words, 'gardening ~tips' will make Google look for synonyms for tips, such as 'help,' 'guide' and 'techniques.' A bit more information on the command is provided by Google." http://www.google.com/help/refinesearch.html#tilde

++++ Mailinator

No Signup. No waiting. No SPAM. Just email - your email - anytime you want it. No time wasted signing-up, just send an email to any address @mailinator.com. Your email address already exists. Get your email sent here, THEN go check mailinator. Your mail will be waiting. Forget giving out your real email address. Forget giving out your information. Forget spam. So, the next time someone suspicious asks for your email... make up a mailinator address on the spot and give them that. Then go there and see what was sent. It is that easy. There are a few limitations. You can't send mail from the address and it is public to anyone who knows the address. http://www.mailinator.com/

++++ Special Pricing

I have always heard of others finding fantastic bargains, but I missed out on them. I have found a way to change that. In the last month I was able to purchase a laser printer and a new briefcase for $80. I found some software that sells for $299 with a $200 discount from the publisher using a special code. I visit some sites that list current specials, rebates, and special codes for many discounted items and not all of them are computer related. One friend used the sites to purchase some name brand shoes at a fabulous discount. The sites to check are:
SlickDeals.net (http://www.slickdeals.net/)
TechDeals.net (http://www.techdeals.net/)
got apex? (http://www.gotapex.com/deals.php)
DealHunting.com (http://www.dealhunting.com/)
Ben's Bargain Center (http://www.bensbargains.net/)
techbargains.com (http://www.techbargains.com/)


++++ New additions to Hewie's Favorites

BugBlog
http://www.bjkresearch.com/bugblog/index.html
BugBlog is an almost daily look at computer bugs - incompatibilities and other things that go wrong with computers

TV Tome
http://www.tvtome.com/
Reference guide to the television shows you love. View episode guides - cast and crew information and more.

Free World Dialup
http://www.pulver.com/fwd/
Free World Dialup (FWD) allows you to make free phone calls over the Internet using a 'regular' telephone or a computer program

U.S. Tax Code On-Line
http://www.fourmilab.ch/uscode/26usc/
Complete text of the United States Internal Revenue Code - Title 26 of the U.S. Code (26 USC)

Host Evaluator
http://www.hostevaluator.com/
Host Evaluator is free software which helps you make more informed decisions on where your website should be hosted

landlord.com
http://www.landlord.com/
For landlords - property managers and other real estate professionals - with free tools

SpywareBlaster
http://www.wilderssecurity.net/spywareblaster.html
Freeware to prevent spyware from ever being installed

HandyBits
http://www.handybits.com/default.htm
EasyCrypto - Deluxe Zip&Go - Voice Mail - File Shredder - VirusScan Integrator Free for personal use

DeskMod
http://www.deskmod.com/
Desktop Modification - Skins - Themes - Wallpapers and More!

Short Courses for Digital Cameras
http://www.shortcourses.com/
Complete guide to digital cameras - digital photography and digital video

Win Web Hosting
http://www.winwebhosting.com/index.html
Free or inexpensive web hosting. Inexpensive Domain Name registrations. Great place to test site.

Spamotomy
http://spamotomy.com/
Search Spamotomy's easy-to-use database of anti-spam tools to find the right solution

GoodQuotes.com
http://www.goodquotes.com/
GoodQuotes.com lists thousands of funny and inspirational quotes

RSS Workshop
http://gils.utah.gov/rss/
Learn how to create - validate - parse - publish and syndicate your own RSS news channel from Utah State Library Division

Nutrition Toolbox
http://www.principalhealthnews.com/topic/nutritiontoolbox
Database has nearly 40 000 entries for foods including many popular brand-name items you'll find at grocery stores and fast food restaurants

Compare Internet Browsers
http://www.useyourbrain.co.uk/internet-browser-comparison-chart.htm
Chart compares Internet Browsers

css Zen Garden
http://www.csszengarden.com/
Demo of what can be accomplished visually through CSS-based design

MSFN
http://www.msfn.org/
Microsoft Software Forum Network - Windows Online News - Your daily technology news

CardWeb.com
http://www.cardweb.com/
Payment Card Information Network - Credit Card Information - Interest Rates - Credit Cards

Find Fonts by sight
http://www.fonts.com/findfonts/identifontframe.asp?nCo=AFMT&FONTNAME=identifont
Answer questions from a sample of the typeface you are looking for. You will then be shown a list of matching typefaces

Your Garage Sale Source
http://www.garagesalesource.com/
Find garage sales in your area or submit the database. Good info and sign makeras well

Household Products Database
http://householdproducts.nlm.nih.gov/
Health and Safety Info on over 4 000 consumer brands - research products based on chemical ingredients

Who Owns What
http://www.cjr.org/owners/
Which publications and other ancillary businesses are owned and controlled by various media conglomerates around the United States

WinXPnews
http://www.winxpnews.com/
WinXPnews™ is an e-zine for Windows XP Power Users

List of Web Hosts
http://webhosts.thelist.com/
Shows service providers in its database and lets you search according to your needs from The List's database.

SearchBug PeopleFinder
http://www.searchbug.com/peoplefinder/landorcell.aspx
Verify if a phone number is a cellular/mobile number or a landline number. Also reports telco carrier and location name/code