FSum version 2.51 and wxchecksums version 1.20

A minor update only changed this data on 11/19/05. It was updated on 1/19/07.

What Fsum does is assist one in determining if files have been tampered with.

For example, if you download the same file from two TOTALLY DIFFERENT sites, and they do not have the same crc32 checksum, it means that they are not identical, which means one or both may have a trojan horse or be virus infected, etc..

Fsum has other uses, but this is what I use it for.

The default test is MD5. I prefer crc32. You will have the option to use crc32 when you run the program.

By the by, the crc32 checksum of FSum.exe version 2.51 is 6fdd94ef. :)

http://www.slavasoft.com/fsum/

A similar, and likely better product to do the same thing is wxchecksums. In most situations at least, it is free to use. I recommend it over Fsum.
http://wxchecksums.sourceforge.net/mainpage_en.html

Stellarium

This sounds interesting if you are into astronomy. Please know that I have not tried this program.

"Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.
It is being used in planetarium projectors. Just set your coordinates and go."

http://www.stellarium.org/

winter precipitation types and definitions

What's the difference between snow showers and snow flurries, etc..
http://weather.about.com/od/winterweather/p/stormtypes.htm

Wikipedia

Created 3/10/05, updated 4/30/05, 1/12/07

I don't know much about this, but a first blush it appears very good. Appearently a free online encyclopedia. And it appears to be a work in progress, (which any good encyclopedia will always be).

What's different about this encyclopedia besides being free? Well, it appears to be written by anyone and everyone who has expertise or understanding on any given subject, all freely given. A gift from us all, to us all?

Now I like that very much.

"I'm still absolutely stunned that something as incredible as Wikipedia actually exists. Every time I use the site I feel an irrepressible surge of wonder and gratitude. We are lucky to have Wiki!"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

Holy smoke! Do the same folks also run a similarly created news service?

http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/Main_Page

better web browser than Internet Explorer version 6

In my opinion is Firefox version 2.0.0.1. It is free to use like Internet Explorer, and is open source. If used carefully, (few or no add ons, etc. ) it is likely more secure than Internet Explorer version 6.0.

If you are not highly concerned about security, try some of the many add ons for it too. If you do that I recommend Stumbleupon . It is fun and useful. There are many other useful add ons for Firefox as well.

It will take a bit of getting used to as Firefox operates a little differently than Internet Explorer. If you try it and don't like it, simply cease using it and go back to Internet Explorer or whatever browser you are using currently.

Firefox: http://en-us.www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox/

Stumbleupon: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/138/

other add ons Firefox recommends, ( I have tried but a few):
https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/recommended/